WASHINGTON – With Turkey claiming seas around Cyprus and Greek islands, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, lauded Congress’ approval of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act he said has brought “a new day in Greek-American relations.”
He was a co-author of the measure and an ally of Greece and Cyprus during increasingly tense relations with Turkey, which is drilling for oil and gas off the island and wants to do the same off Greek islands.
Speaking to Greece’s state-run Athens-Macedonia News Agency (ANA-MPA) he said that, “I felt that we were in a moment in which the stars were aligned. I think there is a growing recognition of the importance of Greece and Cyprus along with Israel as a new strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean.
“It speaks volumes of the importance of Greece and Cyprus along with Israel in the new strategy that we can include the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Partnership Act of 2019 by agreement in the appropriations bill that will become law,” said Menendez.
The bill, however, still needs to be signed by President Donald Trump who said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a good friend of his but there were no initial reports whether the measure would be held up.
The EastMed Act is part of an appropriations bill that was passed by a vote of 71-23 and also ends a US arms embargo against Cyprus, while Turkey – which has occupied the northern third since an unlawful 1974 invasion – has been allowed to buy weapons.
The measure also sets up an energy center for cooperation between the US, Israel, Greece and Cyprus, military financing and training assistance for Greece and Cyprus with Turkey having signed a deal with Libya to divide the seas between them, focusing on the East Mediterranean.
Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) Executive Director Endy Zemenides said that “the East Med Act puts substance behind the ‘stronger together’ mantra.”
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican and the bill’s co-author, said it “reaffirms our nation’s commitment to strengthening and expanding our energy and security cooperation with our key allies and partners in the region.”
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) also praised Congress’ decision, calling it “an historic, truly transformational development in United States foreign policy.”
“Both Democrats and Republicans realize we can’t rely today on Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. America’s frontline in this strategically and economically vital region comprises Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, as well as several Arab countries, beginning with Egypt and Jordan,” also said AJC CEO David Harris.
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