AHI: Το ταξίδι του Pete Sessions στα κατεχόμενα είναι αντίθετο προς τα βέλτιστα συμφέροντα των ΗΠΑ

Το Αμερικανικό Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο (American Hellenic Institute-AHI) καταδικάζει την επίσκεψη του Αμερικανού βουλευτή Pete Sessions στην κατεχόμενη Κύπρου στις 3 Αυγούστου. Σε σχετική ανακοίνωση αναφέρεται στην άφιξή του στα κατεχόμενα από την Τουρκία, μέσω του παράνομου αεροδρομίου της Τύμπου, σημειώνοντας ότι δεν υπάρχει ανάλογο προηγούμενο με Αμερικανό πολιτικό. Οι Ρώσοι, μέσω Τραμπ, έστειλαν τον Pete Sessions στην «ΤΔΒΚ» – Αγγελιαφόρος (ageliaforos.com)

«Το ταξίδι αυτό είναι αντίθετο προς τα βέλτιστα συμφέροντα των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών και της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας και απειλεί να υπονομεύσει τις προσπάθειες για την επανένωση της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας» αναφέρεται.

Προστίθεται ότι με το ταξίδι αυτό «δημιουργείται ένα επικίνδυνο προηγούμενο για τους εκλεγμένους νομοθέτες και κυβερνητικούς αξιωματούχους μας, οι οποίοι πρέπει να υποστηρίζουν τις επίσημες διπλωματικές θέσεις των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών και να σέβονται το διεθνές δίκαιο και τους νόμους άλλων κυρίαρχων εθνών».

Όπως αναφέρεται στην ανακοίνωση, το παράνομο αεροδρόμιο «είναι χτισμένο σε ακίνητη περιουσία από την οποία η Τουρκία έχει εκτοπίσει βίαια τους νόμιμους ιδιοκτήτες στους οποίους ανήκει η γη, σύμφωνα με τους νόμους της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας, ορισμένοι από τους οποίους είναι πολίτες των ΗΠΑ. Αυτή η πράξη έρχεται στον απόηχο της αναφοράς ότι ο συνάδελφος του Sessions, Dan Newhouse ακύρωσε την προγραμματισμένη επίσκεψή του στην κατεχόμενη Κύπρο μετά από συστάσεις του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών».

Ο Πρόεδρος του AHI, Νίκος Λαρυγγάκης εξέφρασε την ανησυχία του για την επίσκεψη, δηλώνοντας ότι «το ταξίδι του βουλευτή Sessions στην κατεχόμενη περιοχή της Κύπρου ίσως να έχει αρνητικές επιπτώσεις στην Κύπρο και αντικατοπτρίζει μια θέση που έρχεται σε αντίθεση με το διεθνές δίκαιο, τις διπλωματικές και τις αμερικανικές πολιτικές ως προς την παράνομη κατοχή του εδάφους της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας. Αυτό στέλνει το μήνυμα ότι ένα μέλος του Κογκρέσου των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών δεν υποστηρίζει μια λύση που θα επανένωνε νομίμως και δίκαια την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία».

«Επιπλέον, πρέπει να εκφράσω με σεβασμό τη διαφωνία μου με την ακρίβεια του σχολίου του Sessions. Δεν υπάρχει “βόρεια Κύπρος” ή “νότια Κύπρος”, υπάρχει μόνο η Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία. Όταν ο Sessions μιλάει για δικαιοσύνη, είναι κρίσιμο να σημειωθεί η πλήρης αδικία των 49 ετών παράνομης εισβολής της Τουρκίας και της παράνομης κατοχής του εδάφους της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας» πρόσθεσε.

Τέλος, ο κ. Λαρυγγάκης κάλεσε τον Αμερικανό βουλευτή να συναντηθεί μαζί του στο Κογκρέσο για να του εξηγήσει, όπως είπε, την κατάσταση.

Πηγή: ΚΥΠΕ

*********************************************

*Το πρωτότυπο κείμενο της ανακοίνωσης

American Hellenic Institute Condemns Visit of U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions To Occupied Cyprus Following Trip to Turkey

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) strongly condemns the visit to the illegally occupied area of Cyprus by U.S. Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) on August 3, 2023. During his visit, Representative Sessions met with the leadership of “TRNC.” The “TRNC” is an unincorporated association which was set up by the Republic of Turkey when Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus in 1974. The purpose of the “TRNC” is to administer the territory of the Republic of Cyprus which Turkey has unlawfully occupied since the invasion. Under Security Council Resolution 541 (1983), the United Nations considers the “TRNC” to be without any international legal status as does every nation in the world except Turkey.

Congressman Sessions is the first American politician to break with precedent and land at the Tymbou Airport in occupied Cyprus, coming from a flight from Turkey. This airport is built on the property from which Turkey has forcibly displaced the rightful owners who title under the laws under the Republic of Cyprus, some of whom are US citizens. This act comes in the wake of reporting that Representative Sessions’ colleague, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA), cancelled his planned visit to occupied Cyprus after being issued recommendations from the United States Department of State.

AHI vehemently opposes the entry by Congressman Sessions through Tymbou airport to which every international airport/air travel organization refuses membership. This trip is contrary to the best interests of the United States and the Republic of Cyprus and threatens to undermine efforts to achieve reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. Furthermore, this establishes a dangerous precedent for our elected lawmakers and government officials, who must uphold the official diplomatic positions of the United States and respect international law and the laws of other sovereign nations.

The American Hellenic Institute strongly supports congressional visits to the Republic of Cyprus and entry into the Turkish occupied territory as long as entry is made in a manner consistent with the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and the official diplomatic positions of the United States. The Republic of Cyprus facilitates such visits through entry points which are monitored by the UN in the buffer zone.

According to reports, the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia issued statements in response to this incident which declared that they are “aware that [Sessions] visited Cyprus in a non-official capacity” and that “as such, the Embassy did not provide any support for [his] non-official travel.” Additionally, the Embassy noted that “as a general matter, the United States recognizes the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate government on the island. The United States does not recognize the ‘TRNC.’”

Congressman Pete Sessions stated the following, regarding the trip: “I never hesitate to express myself; I always stand for justice, balance, and truth. There is actually a lot that can be said about injustices. I have visited the south in the past, and now I think it is perfectly right and fair to visit the north. In this context, I am happy to hear your views.”

AHI President Larigakis expressed his concern over the visit, stating:

“Congressman Sessions’ trip to the occupied area of Cyprus threatens to have adverse effects against the Republic of of Cyprus and reflects a position which contradicts international law, diplomatic and US policies as to the unlawful occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus This sends a message that a member of the United States Congress does not support a solution which would lawfully and equitably reunite the Republic of Cyprus.

“Furthermore, I must respectfully express my disagreement with the accuracy of Congressman Sessions’ comment. There is no “north Cyprus” or “south Cyprus,” there is only the Republic of Cyprus.

“In addition, when Congressman Sessions speaks about justice, it is critical to note the complete injustice of 49 years of Turkey’s illegal invasion and unlawful occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

“We welcome the opportunity to meet with Congressman Sessions and his office, to explain the situation to him.”

“In addition, I want to commend Congressman Newhouse for his decision to cancel his trip to the “TRNC”, based on the recommendations of the State Department. I also want to express my appreciation to the State Department for their strong stance on this issue.”

Background

By way of background as to why no U.S. citizen should travel into the occupied north through an illegal entry point, we bring to your attention certain facts for your consideration: The so-called ”Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (referred to as the “TRNC”) is an illegal entity under international law and is not recognized by any nation in the world except for Turkey. Turkey’s illegal 1974 invasion of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish army’s continuing illegal occupation of 37.3 percent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus – which was accomplished and is perpetuated with the unlawful use of U.S. arms – are violations of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, article 2 (4) of the UN Charter, and the North Atlantic Treaty.

The Turkish unlawful occupation violates several UN resolutions, such as the unanimous UN General Assembly Resolution 3212, passed on November 1, 1974, which called for the removal of all foreign military forces. It also violates Security Council Resolutions, including S.C. Resolution 365, passed on December 13, 1974 endorsing Resolution 3212. Furthermore, the continued presence of Turkish troops and illegal Turkish settlers in the region is illegal.

The airports in occupied Cyprus are located on property that was illegally taken from its lawful owners during the Turkish invasion. Therefore, in addition to the breach of UN resolutions and international law, the intended visit is problematic because of the issue of property rights in the occupied area of Cyprus. Under consistent rulings issued by the European Court of Human Rights, the only rightful owners of real property in the “TRNC” are those persons who hold title under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus.

The only transfers of title or other interest in real property in the “TRNC” that are legal are transfers that are accomplished under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. Since the Turkish military prevents the operation of the laws of the Republic of Cyprus in the “TRNC,” any transfer is illegal and subject to rescission by the rightful owner. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit applied this principle with respect to personal property that was purported to have been transferred under the laws of the “TRNC”. This principle applies with even greater force with respect to real property.

If members of Congress take part in trips which go through the illegally built Tymbou airport instead of through legal airports and entry points, it places those members in a position of aiding and abetting the violation of the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, a friendly nation who has helped the U.S. and the international community substantially on many important occasions. It further lends endorsement of the illegal occupation and violation of human rights by Turkey in the Republic of Cyprus.