Supreme President Kaitson Demands Turkey Withdraw F-16 Fighters Jets from Northern Cyprus
Posted by estiator at 16 March, at 09 : 51 AM Print
AHEPA Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson joins U.S. Representatives in demanding Turkey withdraw its F-16 fighter jets from occupied northern Cyprus, calling the deployment a violation of American arms export law.
Nevada Representative Dina Titus condemned the move as “unjustifiably provocative,” saying it proves Turkey is an “unreliable ally.” She also called on the President to block any F-35 sale to Ankara and to keep CAATSA sanctions firmly in place.
Florida Representative Gus Bilirakis went further, calling the deployment a “clear affront to Cyprus’s sovereignty,” and a “reckless step that will further escalate tensions and instability in the region.” He directly called on President Erdogan to reverse course immediately. Additionally, Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has already made the same demand.
The Supreme President cites the Arms Export Control Act, which requires that U.S.-made military equipment sold to foreign governments be used only for legitimate defense purposes or other uses approved by Washington. Since the U.S. recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus as the island’s legitimate government, deploying jets in the occupied north raises serious questions regarding whether Turkey is in breach of the terms under which it received the aircraft.
AHEPA has stood beside Cyprus since the illegal occupation in 1974.
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
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