Chairman of the US Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez said that the challenge with Cyprus is that there has been an invasion and occupation that has lasted over four decades and that continues to be a challenge.
Speaking during the hearing at the Foreign Relations committee of the nomination of Julie Fisher for US Ambassador to Cyprus on Wednesday, Menendez expressed frustration that the US administration does not call on the side which is to blame for not moving forward for a resolution to the problem when it is clear who is to be blamed.
On her part, Fisher said timing is absolutely critical in these issues and from her experience, “we have no time to waste.”
Addressing Fisher, Menendez said “clearly one of the challenges with Cyprus is that there has been an invasion and occupation that has lasted over four decades and that continues to be a challenge as we seek reunification of the island under one nation, bizonal, bicommunal federation.”
In our efforts to move towards that direction, he noted, “I believe President Nicos Anastasiades has actually leaned more forward than any other Cypriot President as it relates to making, I would not say concessions but trying to find a way forward to do so.”
One of the things that frustrates me about the State Department, he underlined “is a call on all sides but when one side is the aggressor, as in my view Azerbaijan is with Armenia, or as in the case of Cyprus, when one side is making concessions and the other is not, is a little frustrating to be called on all sides when in fact there is clarity, clarity should be ultimately called out.”
Asking Fisher how she sees her role in pushing back Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeking aggressively to take over Varosha, which is a violation of UNSC resolutions, Fisher acknowledged Menendez’s experience on the question of Cyprus, noting that she appears before the committee with tremendous amount of humility.
She also referred to many capable diplomats that have been in work on this case (Cyprus) over decades, noting that she does not underestimate how difficult the challenges are in Cyprus.
“I do think it is a place where there is tremendous opportunity if we can focus our energies on those on the island, those who are paying the highest price for the divisions currently and those who benefit most from that comprehensive settlement, should it be reached.”
She said what she hopes to “bring to this, is the ability to create space and to bring a sense of urgency to this process. The key part of these talks is that they are Cypriot led and UN facilitated and first and foremost that is where I would look to find the way forward”, she added.
Fisher said, “I think timing is absolutely critical in these issues and my experience is that we have no time to waste.”
Menendez said he appreciates her view as “a sense of urgency is important because this conflict has lasted way too long.”
He also agreed that “if Turkish and Greek Cypriots were allowed to engage with each other, there would be a solution.”
However, he said “the problem is that Ankara puts their thumb on the scale and doesn’t allow Turkish Cypriots to find their own way which ultimately means they decide at the end of the day.”
Regarding the East Med, Menendez said he is a strong supporter of the the cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, adding that “we are looking forward to the first meeting of the 3+1 interparliamentary group to discuss energy cooperation with our allies and partners in the region.”
Menendez said he has been disappointed that there has not been more support for the format from the administration, without holding Fisher responsible for that.
“Just saying that I hope that the next ambassador to Cyprus is an advocate within the interagency process to say we have a tremendous opportunity here”, he remarked.
Menendez also said he gives “credit to the Cypriots that they stopped the Russian ships from ports of call before the invasion which is incredibly important.”
Asked what opportunities she sees for the US to work with Cyprus and our partners in the Eastern Mediterranean, to bolster European energy security, to create a bigger ally as it relates to other energy securities, Fisher replied that when these kinds of formats work and there are meaningful discussions in them, “truly we have the opportunity to expand those agendas significantly”.
Noting that Menendez has cited the energy issues in the Eastern Mediterranean security “as central questions for the 3+1, my experience is that when we find a format where there is so much to share and so much to learn amongst a group of likeminded partners, that truly we can expand this in a multitude of directions”, adding that these kinds of formats are incredibly meaningful to building bilateral relationships.
“You can count on my support for these”, she said, and called for a continued cooperation with Menendez and his team.
Source: Cyprus News Agency