US Secretary of State | We have criticized Turkey’s actions – Full engagement in the Cyprus issue

You will witness US diplomacy fully engaged in the Cyprus issue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Responding to a question from Rhode Island Democrat David Siciline, Blinken recalled President Biden’s extensive engagement in the Cyprus issue as a member of the Senate and Vice President of the United States and said that it was an issue of high importance to the US President.

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“We strongly support a comprehensive settlement that will reunite Cyprus as a bi-zonal bi-communal federation. We will be engaged in the effort to advance this perspective, including support for the crucial role of the United Nations, as well as direct US engagement in this effort. I think you will witness US diplomacy fully engaged,” concluded Antony Blinken.

In his speech, MP Sichiline, noting that July marks the 47th anniversary of the Turkish occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, said that for the first time we have a US President and Secretary of State with substantial experience in the reunification of Cyprus.

“I want to know – before the talks on Cyprus convened by the UN Secretary General in April – the strategy to address the obsession of Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot leader for a two-state solution and the opening of the ‘ghost town’ of Varosia. Both are opposed to United Nations resolutions and US policy.”

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MP Sichiline added that it is expected that with this government there will be real progress towards the reunification of Cyprus.

Responding to the intervention of the New York Republican MP, Nicole Malliotakis, the US Secretary of State reiterated his support for a solution of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation, while noting that “we will engage in this effort and will also support UN in this direction.”

“I can assure you that you will witness the United States and our diplomats fully engaged in Cyprus trying to move things forward after many years,” he added.

Eastern Mediterranean and Turkish challenges 

Regarding the tripartite cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s anti-democratic stance and the role that the United States can play, Antony Blinken noted that the United States is very concerned about some of the actions taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially on the part of Turkey, whether they concern land or sea areas or energy resources.

“It is very important for the United States to take a stand and promote the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean and to insist that any disputes that arise be resolved peacefully, diplomatically, not militarily and certainly not through provocative actions. We have criticized actions, including those of Turkey, which in our opinion violate international law or NATO commitments, as in the case of the S-400s, entailing provocative actions against Greece, such as airspace violations,” underlined the US Secretary of State.

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However, Mr Blinken also noted “one of the positive developments in recent weeks” is the significant diminution in the ‘temperature’ on these issues, with Turkey engaged with the EU and others, trying to move forward in a more productive way.

“We are very supportive in this and we will continue to try to help move things in that direction,” he said.  

Responding to MP Nicole Malliotakis on the issue of provocation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mr Blinken said the United States would continue to address it. “I think a positive development is the more positive involvement of Turkey in this region in recent weeks, especially with the EU. We hope that the ‘temperature’, at least in this area, will continue to fall and remain low.”

Regarding the role of the United States in the various collaborations and projects in the region, he said – in response to MP Dina Taitus – that they are considering if there is a productive role they can play, especially in terms of energy and resource diversification.

“It is something that promotes our own security as well as the security of other countries, including partners,” he added.

It was Mr Blinken’s first testimony to the committee since taking office. The issues of China, Russia and Iran, as well as the Nord Stream pipeline prevailed, while the issue of Turkey’s interventions in Azerbaijan was raised by the Democratic MP from California, Brad Sherman, and the need for Ankara to be accountable for many human rights violations and the imprisonment of opponents of the regime.

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