Rhode Island State Senator Lou Raptakis is leading a group of dozens of Hellenic-American State Legislators and Nevada Lt. Governor from around the country who are calling on Congress to support bipartisan legislation introduced in early May that would extend the waiver renewal period from one year to five years for the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus.
According to a press release by the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (PADEE-WHIA), this change will bolster the historic growth in US-Cypriot relations, enhance bilateral cooperation, and advance US security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. The legislation was introduced ahead of the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus.
Moreover, it says that the 2022 lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus, pursuant to the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, was a milestone in the US-Cyprus bilateral relationship. It has already proven to have a positive effect on the increasingly integrated Eastern Mediterranean. “As Cyprus continues to demonstrate its value as an essential partner of the US and Israel in efforts to advance peace, stability, and cooperation in the East Mediterranean, the End the Cyprus Embargo Act will help continue this vital momentum,” it points out.
It adds that the proposal would extend the waiver renewal period for the arms embargo from one year to five years, permit the President to reconsider the arms embargo waiver only every five years following its enactment, prohibit the President from terminating the waiver unless Congress receives certification that the Republic of Cyprus is no longer cooperating with US efforts to implement anti-money laundering regulations and financial oversight reforms and denying Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
