CNA – Apostolis Zoupaniotis – New York 23/2/2016 19:05
Prominent members from various Greek American and American Jewish organisations, who are scheduled to have meetings at the US Congress, intend to explain to members of Congress they meet that they support a solution to the Cyprus issue based on the UN resolutions, the 11th February 2015 joint communique and the acquis communautaire, pointing out at the same time that they have three red lines.
The Congressional Hellenic Israeli Alliance, formed with the support of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), celebrates its third anniversary on Thursday in Washington.
The idea for the Caucus came during a meeting in Chicago of leaders from AJC, the Hellenic American Leadership Council, and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). It was created to highlight the growing Hellenic-Israeli partnership, which could yield important economic and national security benefits for the U.S. and the region. It also promotes strengthening of relations between the US, Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
Eddie Zemenides, executive director of the HALC, said to celebrate the third anniversary of the caucus, members of the two organisations will hold contacts with members of the House and the Senate.
Members of HALC will be in Washington from Wednesday for meetings with notable members of the Congress. Zemenides said the UN-led Cyprus peace talks have reached a crucial stage and although many are pushing for a solution even in 2016, “those in Congress and in the US administration need to know where our red lines as a community are”.
Zemenides said the Greek American community has learned from the lessons of 2004, and the recent agreement on Iran`s nuclear programme and does intend to face a situation in Cyprus where an agreement will be presented and the only option will be to resist it at the last moment because it will not be viable.
He said the HALC members will explain to the Congress that “we support a solution to the Cyprus issue based on the UN resolutions and the 11th February 2015 joint communique and the acquis communautaire but we have three red lines”.
The first concerns no foreign involvement in a reunified Cyprus, no guarantees, no special arrangements concerning security. “Cyprus is an independent state and a member of the EU and does not need other countries, either Greece, Turkey, Britain or the US”, he said.
The second line, he added, is that there should be no foreign troops, even on a temporary basis. Cyprus will have a bicommunal police, the UN Police will be available, therefore the presence of any other troops will be a destabilizing factor.
Zemenides added the third line is that any benefits for a solution for both communities should come into effect from the very first day.
He said that if these issues are not clarified, it will be uncertain whether the agreement will be acceptable to the people.
Zemenides said they are looking for Congress to reply on these issues, adding that HALC would like for notable members of the Congress to prepare two letters, one by the House and the other by the Senate, that will be sent to US Vice President Joe Biden, in which they stress their support to efforts for a solution and that any solution should fulfill the conditions he already outlined.
The HALC president said that Council members will have meetings with members of the US Congress.
Taking part in Thursday`s event are members from Chicago, Indiana, Wisconcin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland and other states.
In the three years since it was established, CHIA has been active in Congress with letters, presentations on Cyprus and on Greece.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island`s northern third. UN-led talks are currently underway to reunite the country under a federal roof.