The Senator and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the conversation with the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), Endy Zemenides, at the Delphi Economic Forum.
US strengthens relations with East Mediterannean counties, Greece, Cyprus, Israel
According to the announcement of the organizers of the Forum, Bob Menendez stressed Washington’s interest in the Mediterranean, referring to the Great Mediterranean Act.
“We believe that the Eastern Mediterranean is an alliance of countries that share our values and interests,” said the senator, adding that he referred to Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
“These countries share our democratic values and they are willing to maintain closer relations,” he said. Bob Menendez said he looked forward to continuing to deepen US cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, including the establishment of a US energy center in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Turkey is not a reliable ally”
Asked about Biden’s message to Erdogan when they meet on the fringes of the NATO Summit, he said: “We would all like Turkey to be a NATO ally, as we would like to be, a country that is not just a security ally but also in our democratic values. Unfortunately, Turkey under Erdogan is not like that,” he said.
He launched an attack on Ankara for its “malicious actions” in Cypriot and Greek waters and the EEZ while stressing that the expansion of its EEZ in Libya was not compatible with international law.
He also said that Turkey was not a reliable ally, citing the memorandum with Libya, the involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the violation of religious freedoms and the imprisonment of journalists in Turkey, except the issues with Greece and Cyprus. “There are more journalists in Turkish prisons than anywhere else in the world, and that says something,” he said.
US recognition of Armenian genocide
As for the bill recognizing the Armenian genocide in the US Senate, he said he was very proud to have it passed after years of Turkish efforts to block it, and then stressed that he called on President Biden to abide by his commitment to his election campaign and recognize the Armenian genocide.
It took 106 days (Biden presidency), but the President insisted. “I think it sent a very strong message around the world about our foreign policy. It has shown that the United States prioritizes human rights and democracy when dealing with other countries,” the statement said. “When we say never again, we mean it,” he said.
Turkey’s insistence on a two-state solution for Cyprus issue
Asked about the message he wants to send to Turkey regarding the two countries’ solution to the Cyprus issue, he said that such a solution was not even on the table.
“Cyprus remains divided because of Turkey, it is a federation of two communities that have lived side by side for decades,” he said, “Erdogan promotes a two-state solution aiming at annexing the northern part of the island.” However, as he stressed, “neither the US government nor the international community agrees” with the solution of the two states.
He cited the example of Turkish Cypriots, who had revolted against Erdogan’s demand for Muslim education.
Source: ANA-MPA