AHI Addresses Eastern Mediterranean Tensions with Obama Administration Officials

WASHINGTON, DC —The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is working to address the recent actions taken by Turkey that have raised tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with officials of the Obama Administration.  

Following-up on an October 24 letter sent to Vice President Joe Biden about Turkey’s provocations in the eastern Mediterranean, AHI President Nick Larigakis met with Dr. Michael Carpenter, special advisor for Europe and Eurasia, Office of the Vice President and William Tuttle, director for Turkish, Greek and Cypriot Affairs, National Security Council, at the White House, November 4, 2014.

“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,” Larigakis said.  “We communicated our concerns to the Obama Administration officials, and we will continue to engage with them until tensions deescalate and settlement negotiations can resume.” 

Turkey continues with its provocations, most recently authoring its Navy for full implementation of recently amended rules of engagement off the shores of Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.

In the past month, Turkey has sent warships into the area and issued a NAVTEX stating it would begin seismic surveys.  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 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.