The AHEPAN Spring 2022 - 22

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
American Hellenic, American Jewish
Groups Hold Ambassadors' Forum
AHEPA, American Hellenic Institute (AHI), B'nai B'rith International, and the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, held a virtual
Ambassadors Forum with the American ambassadors to Greece, Cyprus, and Israel,
January 19, 2022.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of
Cyprus Judith Garber, and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, briefed the
leadership of each of the four organizations on the 3+1 framework in the Eastern
Mediterranean, touching on developments in sectors such as energy, defense and
security, commerce, and tourism.
Following the briefing, the organizations issued the following statement:
" We sincerely thank Ambassadors Nides, Garber, and Pyatt for their generous
time and for highlighting the importance of the trilateral partnership and the engagement
of the United States as part of the 3+1 framework.
" The 3+1 framework is in the best of interest of the United States as it fosters
peace, security, stability, and shared democratic values and ideals, in a vital region.
We will continue to lend our broad diaspora support, ideas, and encouragement
for advancing the framework, especially as we plan our fifth Leadership Mission to
Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, later this year. "
Groups Issue Statement on Power Cable Investment
In addition, the four organizations issued a statement about the European Union's
investment in the construction of a power cable between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus,
on January 28, 2022:
" Our organizations applaud the European Union's significant investment toward
the construction of a 2,000-megawatt undersea electricity cable between Greece,
Israel, and Cyprus that will link the power grids of the three countries. The 657
million euros investment ($736 million) demonstrates the substantial progress the
trilateral alliance has achieved in energy cooperation and the three countries' leadership
in the region to provide energy security. It also signals the three countries commitment
to increasing the use of renewable energy sources, which is commendable.
" We applaud the trilateral alliance's ongoing aim to foster peace, security, stability,
and shared democratic values and ideals, in the region. We will continue to
lend our broad diaspora support and encouragement for advancing the trilateral
alliance across all sectors, especially as we plan our fifth Leadership Mission to
Israel, Cyprus, and Greece in 2022. "
22 | THE AHEPAN · Spring 2022
AHEPA Commends
Congressional
Action on Cyprus
AHEPA commended the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs for advancing legislation
out of committee that condemns Turkey for
its repeated aggression toward Cyprus on
Dec. 10, 2021.
U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' (R-NY), a
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
sponsored the bipartisan-backed resolution,
H.Res.376. It has 15 co-sponsors.
" AHEPA thanks Congresswoman
Malliotakis, members of the committee,
including Chairman Gregory Meeks; and the
resolution's co-sponsors for their support, "
Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas said.
" We call for the resolution to be brought
swiftly to the House floor for passage. "
He added, " The 47-year illegal invasion
and subsequent occupation of the Republic
of Cyprus, a U.S. strategic partner and
EU-member nation, by Turkey, a failed
NATO-member country under the Erdogan
regime, remains to this day an unacceptable
act; one that is a gross violation of the
rule of law, human rights, and democratic
ideals. It is long overdue for the Turkish
government's intransigence, its antiquated
and objectionable positions on the Cyprus
issue, and its aggression toward Cyprus, to
come to an end. "
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The AHEPAN Spring 2022

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