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LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FROM THE AMERICAN HELLENIC INSTITUTE ON THE
STATE OF U.S.-GREECE RELATIONS
______
HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, as the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I include in the Record a letter from the American Hellenic Institute to President Biden regarding the Institute's present perspective on the state of the U .S.-Greece relations. The letter includes discussion of issues on defense, security, and counterterrorism; international commerce and trade and energy security; and the Cyprus Issue.
April 22, 2021.President Joseph R. Biden,The White House,Washington, DC.
Dear President Biden: On behalf of the nationwide membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), thank you for your remarks to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence. Although many aspects of your remarks resonated with the Greek American community, the following excerpt struck a chord:
``What really binds us together are our values. We are two people rooted in a common conviction that every human being is entitled to be treated with dignity. And it is our shared commitment to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law, that empowers us to write our own futures, whether 200 years ago or today.''
Mr. President, the momentous occasion to mark Greece's Bicentennial provides the opportunity to convey the Institute's present perspective on the state of U.S.-Greece relations, which is flourishing under the ``shared commitment to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law'' that you correctly and eloquently stated. Unfortunately, malign actors in the region, especially Turkey, display a blatant and an intense disregard for these shared values with provocative actions that threaten the United States' allies and strategic partners as well as our interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
It is in the United States' best interest for Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean to be politically, economically and socially stable, and for democratic principles to flourish, including adherence to the rule of law. Greece is an immensely valuable link as ``a pillar of stability'' in the region as several high-level U.S. government officials have noted.
The U.S.-Greece relationship has reached new heights by virtue of an ongoing Strategic Dialogue, which include avenues for cooperation across sectors, such as: regional cooperation, defense and security, and trade and investment, among others, are plotted for implementation.
Defense, Security and Counterterrorism
Greece advances U.S. interests as a pivotal and dependable NATO and a frontline state against terrorism. The Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Greece illustrates the two allies' commitment to address longterm security challenges in the region. The Agreement currently is under revision. After it is upgraded, it will offer more flexibility to deepen cooperation in the defense sector, according to Greece's Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, with whom I held a public discussion last month. For its part, Greece further demonstrates its commitment to the Alliance as one of a minority of NATO members to meet NATO's minimum standard on defense expenditures; second only to the U.S., by percentage. To demonstrate further:
Souda Bay, Crete: in our view, the most important U.S. military facility in the Mediterranean Sea from where in the past joint USN/USAF reconnaissance missions and air refueling support for U.S. and NATO operations were implemented successfully and continues to be immensely important.
NATO Joint-Command HQ: Thessaloniki hosts a NATO Rapid Deployment Corps combined with its Third Army Corps for two years.
Operation Atlantic Resolve: Greece enables a substantial portion of the U.S. Army's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade to enter the European theater through the port of Thessaloniki and to depart through Alexandropoulis. Alexandroupolis is being recognized as a city with increased geostrategic importance, which can also contribute to economic development and energy security.
USAF temporarily operated MQ-9 Reaper Drones from Greece's Larisa Air Force Base.
The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the U.S. Army, from October-Nov 20, 2020 and from February-Mar 21, 2021, stationed and trained at Volos and Stefanovikeio.
It is evident Greece contributes significantly to U.S. interests. However, it becomes increasingly challenging for Greece to fulfill this important role when it constantly is expending valuable resources to defend itself against aggressive and provocative behavior emanating from a fellow NATO member, Turkey.
Turkey engaged in over 7,000 violations of Greece's territorial waters and airspace in 2020. There were 4,605 airspace and 3,215 maritime incidents.
Turkey's routine challenges to Greece's sovereignty must cease and desist. In fact, Greece's Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, called out Turkey's provocative behavior, stating to an AHI audience on April 1, 2021 that Turkey threatens ``Greece's sovereign rights.'' In this context, Gen. Floros explicitly cited as example the maritime border Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Libya. In addition, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt has called the MoU
``unhelpful'' and ``escalatory'' in nature in previous public statements. Ambassador Pyatt also affirmed the internationally recognized legal concept that ``inhabited islands as a matter of customary international law are entitled to the same treatment as continental territory.''
International Commerce and Trade and Energy Security
Greece also is an important player in international commerce and trade, especially via its shipping industry. According to Greek shipping industry statistics, 22.5% and 20.3% of the Greek-owned fleet's activity is dedicated to the U.S. and the European trade, respectively; and ``Greek-owned ships represent almost 21% of the global tonnage.'''
AHI requests the Administration maintain high-level engagement with Greece on economic relations and encourages future U.S.-Greece economic relationships to pursue commercial partnerships and opportunities for more U.S. investment in Greece.
However, it is important to note that Turkey also threatens Greece's economic development. Turkey exploits its control over the flow of migrants to Europe, in essence, weaponizing them. Historically, Greece has carried the heavy burden of migrant flows to Europe, which has had a detrimental impact upon Greece's economy. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has been very clear to state that Turkey bears its responsibility due to Turkey's ability to control ``the flows in the Aegean.''
Moreover, Turkey's threat to energy security in the region is not in the best interests of the United States and stymies Greece's potential as an energy hub. Turkey has encroached upon Greece's continental shelf off the coast of the Greek island complex of Kastellorizo in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This island complex is sovereign Greek territory. It has a continental shelf as defined under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which is part of the Greek continental shelf. The island complex is also part of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is available to Greece. Ambassador Pyatt underscored upholding international law when he stated the U.S. position that islands have ``exactly the same'' continental shelf and exclusive economic zone rights as does any mainland territory. ``I have also made a point on many occasions . . . that the United States adheres to the principal of international maritime law that islands, including Kastellorizo, have exactly the same continental shelf and EEZ rights as does any mainland territory,'' Ambassador Pyatt stated to reporters on July 23, 2020.
Turkey also has exercised ``gunboat diplomacy'' in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish drillships have been in Cypriot waters, conducting activities illegally in violation of Cyprus' sovereignty and international law. AHI welcomes the United States' stated support for the Republic of Cyprus's right to develop its natural resources, including in its exclusive economic zone.
The Cyprus Issue
A key to peace and stability in the region is for good neighborly relations among NATO members and respect for the rule of law. However, Turkey's continuing occupation of Cyprus, which is a member of the European Union; its intransigence in solving the Cyprus problem, and its refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, are detrimental to U.S. interests. To illustrate Turkey's intransigence, Turkey insists on maintaining troop levels in Cyprus and on remaining a guarantor power as part of a solution to the Cyprus issue, which led to the collapse of settlement talks in 2017.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's response on the Cyprus issue during a March 10th, 2021 House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing is welcomed: ``We strongly support a comprehensive settlement that reunifies Cyprus in a Bicommunal Federation. We engage in the effort to advance that prospect, including the supportive role of the United Nations, and as well, direct American engagement in that effort. So I think you'll see American diplomacy fully engage.''
However, Mr. President, as a public servant who advocated for upholding the rule of law on Cyprus throughout your long career, I am reminded of your January 27, 1989 letter to then AHI Chairman Dean Lomis, where you stated: ``. . . we must urge the new Administration [President George H.W. Bush] to make Cyprus a higher policy priority in American foreign policy . . . we cannot lose sight of the fact that the rights of Greek Cypriots have been trampled upon, and we must ensure that their claims to ancestral land and property seized during the 1974 invasion are not compromised. Finally, we must send a signal to Turkey that until it has removed every last soldier from Cyprus, it will never be recognized as a full member of the international community.''
It is this same clear message to Turkey regarding Cyprus that the United States must send today because the conditions are the same, if not worse, as recent public discourse emanating from the Turkish government has called for a two-state solution.
Mr. President, the United States-Greece relationship is a strong and healthy one thanks in large part to the shared values identified in your Greek Independence Day celebratory remarks. Greece has proven to be a ``pillar of stability,'' a frontline state to combat terrorism, and a reliable NATO ally. AHI anticipates that bilateral relations, which are at a high point, will be taken to even greater heights during your Administration. By contrast, Turkey is the perpetrator of instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and broader region which is detrimental to U.S. security interests. Turkey is a failed NATO ally that cozies up to Russia and Iran and is a threat to U.S. allies and strategic partners. The U.S. must demonstrate strong, unequivocal support of Greece by continuing to strengthen relations across all sectors and by applying the rule of law to Turkey for its illegal actions.
Respectfully submitted,
Sincerely,
Nick Larigakis,President.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 88
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