Senator Menendez’s Pursuit to Hold Turkey Accountable Applauded

Headquarters

Washington, D.C. office

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) applauds a June 22, 2020 letter authored by Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Ranking Member Robert Menendez to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that raises “deep concern” about Turkey’s escalated aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean and that calls for Turkey to be held responsible for its actions that violate U.S. law through sanctions imposed by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Sen. Menendez addresses an AHEPA Family Capitol Hill Day audience.

“I urge you to fully implement appropriate CAATSA sanctions and core components of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Security Act, a critically important expression of commitment to our relationship with Cyprus, Greece, and Israel,” Ranking Member Menendez wrote.

In November 2019, Supreme President George G. Horiates wrote to Secretary Pompeo with a similar request for the secretary, under authority designated to him by Executive Order, to impose sanctions on Turkish entities pursuant to Section 231 of CAATSA based upon press accounts that reported Turkey tested the S-400 missile defense system against F-16 aircraft.

“We thank Ranking Member Menendez for his steadfast pursuit to hold Turkey accountable for its aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean and for provocative behavior that challenges American security interests and threatens NATO allies and strategic partners of the United States in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East,” Horiates said. “We also appreciate Ranking Member Menendez for raising Turkey’s unjust treatment of U.S. consulate employee Metin Topuz as yet another example.”

In addition, AHEPA commends Ranking Member Menendez’s for urging Secretary Pompeo to reschedule his postponed visit to Cyprus.

# # #

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, on the principles that undergirded its fight for civil rights and against discrimination, bigotry, and hatred felt at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

AHEPA’s mission is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education, Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.

For more information, please visit www.ahepa.org.