AHI Chief Larigakis Says US Cyprus Arms Embargo Unlawful
By TNH Staff August 17, 2018
FILE - Nick Larigakis, President of AHI, welcoming Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces General Staff, to Hellenic House. (Photo by AHI)
With pressure from the Diaspora helping suspend the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, the cal is picking up again for the United States to lift an arms embargo on Cyprus – evaded by the Turkish occupiers who have held the northern third of the island since an unlawful 1974 invasion.
American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis said the US prohibition on sales of defense and military technology to Cyprus is "unlawful" and can be removed witout resorting to legislation.
"We contend the State Department has the legal authority to remedy what has been, for years, an unlawful prohibition on arms transfers to the Republic of Cyprus,"
"We urge the State Department to exercise the requisite political will to get this done. It is in the best interests of the United States for the Republic of Cyprus to look to the United States, and not any other nation, to procure its defense materials," he added, said Kathimerini.
That came as AHI announced the publication of a five-page briefing on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), under which the US has banned the sales of US defense articles and services to Cyprus since 1985.
HI said it gave the State Department a memorandum on its position that the embargo could be lifted and forwarded a memorandum to US officials outlining the case and brought it up again in follow-up meetings.
The briefing described the ITAR, analyzed why the prohibition on Cyprus is unlawful, explained how the State Department itself can remove Cyprus from the application of the ITAR prohibition and that going to Congress isn't needed.
The AHI reiterated the case only days after, in a column in Kathimerini, that Andy Manatos, President of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, Philip Christopher, President of the International Coordinating Committee of Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and the Pancyprian Association of America, and Mike Manatos, President of Manatos & Manatos said the embargo should cease.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier sent warships into Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in a bid to keep foreign energy companies from drilling for oil and gas where they are licensed.
Unity talks collapsed in July, 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana when Erdogan and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said they would never remove their army and wanted the right to militarily intervene.
"The very existence of an arms embargo on Cyprus is an example of our government ignoring the law of our land and punishing our relationship with a country that conducts itself as a most dependable ally, Cyprus," the Diaspora leaders wrote.
While the embargo was aimed at Turkey, they said, it's hurt Cyprus more and that the idea was to end Turkey's occupation on Cyprus but failed because it meant that "Turkey could continue to carry American arms onto Cyprus, but all other US arms to that country were embargoed."
They noted that the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Human Rights Subcommittee said, "The United States should lift its outdated arms embargo on Cyprus. There's no good reason for the United States to deny a tried and true ally like Cyprus essential weaponry for its defense."
The embargo, they said, was put in place because 44 years ago Turkey used American arms unlawfully against Cyprus in the invasion.
They said Erdogan has an agenda for a "final push for Islamist fundamentalism's first modern conquest of Western world territory and resources – the northern third of Cyprus. These are hydrocarbons that the Eastern Mediterranean Alliance – Cyprus, Greece and Israel – are working on together to provide safe delivery to Western Europe."
LITTLE IMPACT
In June, the American Hellenic Council of California (AHC) asked Congress to lift the embargo in place since 1987, supporting a measure filed by US Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) who has had long and close ties with the Greek and Cypriot-American communities.
He said lifting the ban would show the US supports Cyprus as a democracy and EU member and would serve US security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
A joint report of the Department of Defence and the State Department in June 2016 said the arms embargo in Cyprus had "little impact" in the US national security goals and could drive Cyprus toward Russia, a worrying factor, he said.
"As someone who has always cooperated with the Greek and the Greek Cypriot community, I continue to be optimistic that a lasting solution will be reached one day which will bring true and lasting peace," he said.
"This restriction on the sale of military equipment to Cyprus severely undermines regional peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean by constraining Cyprus from protecting its territorial integrity and exclusive economic zone from an expansionist Turkey," AHC said in a statement.
It urged the Greek-American community and other citizens to lobby lawmakers in Congress to end the embargo.
michael Gianakos says:
HALC certainly continue to do what they do best….photo ops with State Department employees , as the un-elected, but self appointed… representatives of the elitist of the Greek community!
The bad news for the corrupt politicians of Washington, D.C………is that they represent no help ….in getting you votes from the Greek community, since, in the end….Cyprus is still occupied by former Nato Colonialist Turkey, and Britain……. The United States and Nato countries still have not removed their member allies from Cyprus and bring to justice, the leaders of Turkey for the ethnic and religious cleansing of Greeks from Northern Cyprus…..and for war crimes against civilians of a foreign country of Cyprus…you know ….the Nuremburg articles of 1945…relating to foreign countries crossing the borders of another sovereign nation ….and killing innocent civilians of that country!
However, thanks to HALC we would not have known….that the puppet government of Cyprus…has been an undeclared member of Nato….and more importantly …..a "Dependable Ally" of the United States!
Which begs the question of the Greek Masons of HALC and the other self appointed spokesmen of Cyprus……. why for over 31 years you have not told the Greek Cypriot community ….that the U.S. who is not even a guaranter of the sovereignty and independence of Cyprus ….has restricted Cyprus from purchasing weapon from this so called ally, and possibly, anybody else…..needed to protect its sovereignty and do what it is supposed to do….. to secure safety and peace of the Greek Cypriot citizens!
But why now…does HALC ..demand they end the ban on selling weapons to Cyprus…. and it just doesn't get better than this…… to expose just another ideological and demented members of the secret society or aristocrates who now run our country, and march only to the Glory of America….right or wrong!
To this point….ending the embargo of arms to non-nato member Cyprus…and who has absolutely no affiliation with the United States and Nato….except that they have been annexed by members of the Nato Alliance to maintain military bases in support to Nato wars, will have nothing to do …in securing the safey of the people of Cyprus from threatened attacks by their enemies like …Nato Member Turkey, or their infringement on the water and land territories of Cyprus, or to remove Turkey from Northern Cyprus….but the real interests of HALC….and Ahepa…. for the glory of america….and as stated by their bosses as follows:
TRANSLATION……For over 31 years….and after the Nato coup of Cyprus to install a government compliant and be an unannounced member of Nato and dependable ally of the United States…..specifically, to making the enemies of the empire of the United States…. the enemies of the people of Cyprus! Hence, HALC….have simply represented the interests of the State department of the United States…..to enforce that policy….and prevent any purchases of arms from Russia …who are not enemies of Cyprus…or any country of the world …only those of degenerate white supremacist Globalist…who believe that …. it is perfectly right to now drop one bomb every 12 minutes on some country of world ….to impose the sovereignty of every independent country of the world by these degenerates of money and power…that now have hijacked ..our government!
Importantly, it indicts the government of Cyprus for surrendering , as an independent sovereign nation , their right to purchase needed arms , to prevent, the recurrence of the slaughter of Greeks in Cyprus, by failing to avail itself of arms from Russia, or any other country of the world! Maybe, you can understand better, why the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Turkey now….not because of Pastor Bruson, but they had the audacity to buy anti missile systems from …you guessed it Russia! And the frauds from TNH and HALC….would like you to believe …that they should take credit for their honorable representation on behalf of Greeks! They would like you to believe …that they have pressured Donald Trump to stop the sale of F-35 fighters to Turkey , when it is simply …another blackmail of a sovereign country by the Regime of the State Department of the United States ….for doing business with ….an enemy of a bunch of ideological members of the U.S. government…. not of anybody else in the world! However, what HALC……embarrasingly….those fighters will be delivered one way or another….. if they only …don't buy any military equipment from anybody….other than the U.S. I guess the government of Cyprus…. has been compliant to date!
However, it is now clear….while not being a member of Nato , but the EU…. they consider the enemies of the United States ….their enemies …and conduct themselves accordingly!
This act of treason…is further enhanced by allowing British Based in Cyprus to conduct war crimes bombings from the territories of Cyprus….against Iraq, Syria, Yemen, etc etc, and threaten the security and peace of the citizens of Cyprus…with possible retaliation!
Palvo…now you know…why Cyprus is not only still divided among Nato countries, but why HALC and the other Taco secret Greek Societies of Greek Masons of the Ahepa…. are more interested in protecting for the Glory of America…their interests….and not those of Greek Cypriot for over 31 years!
They are fraudulent societies promoted by their elitist TNH fellow brothers…who suppress the truth…that it is the United States and Nato…who are responsible for the debacle in 1974…. in order to prevent any influence in Cyprus by Russia….just like they do now! It is the United States and Nato ….who are responsible to remove another Nato member Turkey….from Northern Cyprus in compliance of three UN resolutions to remove al foreignl military forces from the entire country of Cyprus!
Why has Halc and Ahepa…obstructed numerous petitions submitted by Greeks American Cypriots and their supporters…. holding the U.S. responsible for the removal of Turkey by imposing economic sanctions and banning the sale of U.S weapons from Turkey….something they only do to "Their Enemies" like Russia …for claiming Crimea! This hypocracy…exposes the fraud Nato is perpetuating on the people of Europe and the Middle East …just to add another base like Cyprus …to their friendly occupations. NO….THEY AND THE BOYS imposed a ban against non- nato Cyprus to purchase the same weapons ….that Turkey was rewarded with for their Nato operation in Cyprus!
But why now…does HALC ..demand they end the ban on selling weapons to Cyprus…. it just doesn't get better than this …..because Cyprus may buy the weapons …from it mortal enemy…Russia! Oh! excuse me… I mean the mortal enemy… of the United states…but not the rest of the world, except for Cyprus!
To top it off…HALC….enlists the services of Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey… a member of the Ahepa…and just about every other ethnic organization in New Jersey…. to champion the removal of this ban!
This champion of Ahepa….and allegedly the Greek community……. has been indicted on 14 counts of Bribery, fraud, and laundering of money to pay for flights, gifts and I beleive call girls from the Ukraine!
This guy …. get indicted by his own democratic President and party…which is an accomplishment that only occurs one time in a generation! Additionally, he receives annually about $600,000 for his campaign expenses from these Jewish supporters of Israel!
So while HALC and Ahepa…. send this model of statesmanship and fellow brother to allow our government to sell arms to Cyprus…just like they sell arms to Saudi Arabia, UAE…which are immediately provided to their Sunni Muslim brigades of religous fanatics called ISIS and Al Queda …you know the proxy army of the United States who is responsible to overthrow the country of Syria…and murder thousand of Orthodox Christians, he is securing 5 billion dollars of free money to distribute to the boys in Israel to pay for all those fancy warhead, tanks , missiles and even Nuclear Weapons! Now that is what I call…. real news! Not those of fake news promoter …TNH.
It isn't the fact that they are liars and frauds…to the Greek community….but that they despicably fool and give the families of Northern Cyprus …who were the victims of the Treason of the Cypriot Government to fail to come to their aid …when their families were being murdered…and to this day…I watch grown and older men cry about the …destruction of their families in Norhtern Cyprus….it is that give a false sense of security to the people of Cyprus ….that their is someone who really cares, and is representing thier interests!
Shame on the Greek government,Cypriot government, and their aristocratic Greek elitist…..who fit right into the profile of Robert Menendez. Like my Grandmother used to tell me…..who you hang out with…is who you are!
That goes for TNH too!