Turkey Raises Tensions in Eastern Mediterranean; AHI Expresses “Grave Concern” to VP Biden

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) sent a letter to Vice President Joe Biden to express grave concern about recent actions taken by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean that have raised tensions and the lack of a public denouncement of Turkey’s actions by the Obama administration and the U.S. Department of State. 

 “We strongly believe Turkey’s provocative actions in the eastern Mediterranean, which we condemn, endanger the work Vice President Biden has invested toward a Cyprus solution,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said.  “We have several concerns foremost of which is the silence of the Obama administration on this matter, which is deafening.  The United States must denounce Turkey’s actions to quell tensions in the eastern Mediterranean caused by Turkey.”

In recent weeks, Turkey has sent warships into the area and issued a NAVTEX stating it would begin seismic surveys.  Most recently, Turkey sent a survey vessel, accompanied by a warship and two support vessels, into Block 3 of Cyprus’ EEZ on October 21, 2014.

The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.