NO. 74

WASHINGTON, DC — As advocates for the rule of law, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds the United States’ position on the maritime border Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Libya and Turkey based upon a legal analysis of the MOU.

In a U.S. embassy statement posted yesterday, in which U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt called the MoU “unhelpful” and “escalatory” in nature. He affirmed the internationally recognized legal concept that “inhabited islands as a matter of customary international law are entitled to the same treatment as continental territory.” Ambassador Pyatt noted that the legal analysis from Ankara differs from this legal concept.

“The stated policy of the US in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is to increase stability and decrease tension. For the last two years Turkey has acted in every way to systematically undermine this policy. The unlawful MoU is just the latest example.” President Nick Larigakis said. “We congratulate Ambassador Pyatt for his unequivocal statement of principle. It demonstrates that the US is determined to apply the rule of law. In view of the resolve expressed by the US along with Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt and the European Union, Turkey is well advised to cease its blatant violations of international law and for President Erdogan to withdraw his repudiation of the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923.”

AHI urges that the principles which Ambassador Pyatt articulates in his statement be applied with equal force to the threats which Turkey has made against the Greek island of Kastelorizo and other Greek islands in the Aegean Sea as well as its violations of Greek sovereign airspace.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

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For additional information, please contact Elias Gerasoulis at (202) 785-8430 or at [email protected]. For general information about AHI, please visit http://www.ahiworld.org.