Nicosia has welcomed Washington’s decision to allow the sale of US defensive weapons to the Republic of Cyprus.
“This is a particularly important decision by the US Congress,” Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said in statements to the press, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Malta over the weekend, pointing out that it proves in deeds the importance the US attach to Cyprus’ geostrategic role, especially in such a volatile region as the Eastern Mediterranean.
Invited to comment on the decision, he said “the government will handle this issue carefully and it is expected to be discussed at a meeting in Nicosia between the Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and his American counterpart, during his forthcoming visit this coming week.”
US President Barack Obama signed last Wednesday the US National Defence Authorisation Act, which includes an amendment allowing the sale of US defensive weapons to the Republic of Cyprus.
The amendment, co-sponsored by Congressmen David Cicilline and Gus Bilirakis, allows the sale of US defensive weapons, under the condition that the Secretaries of Defence and State submit a report to Congress assessing the impact of the embargo on Cyprus’ national security and counter-terrorism efforts.
The embargo, which dates back to 1992, bans the export of defensive weapons to the Republic of Cyprus, according to Congressman Cicilline. Bilirakis, Cicilline and Senator Robert Menendez tabled amendments in the House of Representatives and the Senate pointing out that the embargo is an anachronism which does not reflect the current upgraded relationships between Cyprus and the US, which are allies and strategic partners.
The embargo “fails to reflect the relationship Cyprus and the United States have today as allies and strategic partners in the global war on terror,” Cicilline said in a statement.
The Hellenic American Leadership Council Executive Director Endy Zemenides applauded the inclusion of the Cyprus amendment, noting that “this is an important step in the growing strategic partnership between Cyprus and the United States.”
“The reevaluation of the arms embargo required by this act will hopefully rectify the absurd status quo in which Turkey is allowed to occupy Cyprus with American arms but Cyprus has to look elsewhere to buy defensive weapons. Resolving this will allow Cyprus to step up even further as a front line state in the Western security infrastructure,” he concluded.
