NO. 17

Washington, DC—The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) released a February 3, 2021 letter to the editor that it sent to The Washington Post, in response to a January 28, 2021 opinion piece written by Asli Aydintasbas titled, “Turkey will drive a hard bargain. Here’s how the Biden team can react.”

AHI’s letter, authored by President Nick Larigakis, presents points and facts about Turkey’s disconcerting behavior as demonstrated by its regional provocations that Ms. Aydintasbas overlooked in her opinion piece.

 “For example, Aydintasbas noted that ‘one area where positive momentum in Turkish-U.S. ties can happen is the periphery--in ancient conflicts like Cyprus and Armenia.’ This idea is completely fallacious, given Turkey’s recent egregious actions against both countries,” Larigakis writes.

• The Washington Post Op-Ed: Turkey will drive a hard bargain. Here’s how the Biden team can react.

AHI’s letter to the editor is presented below.

Dear Editor,

The opinion piece, “Turkey will drive a hard bargain. Here’s how the Biden team can react (Jan. 28)” by Asli Aydintasbas overlooked several facts.

Although Ms. Aydintasbas cites Turkey’s misdeeds under President Erdogan, describing Turkey as a country “drifting from the West, flirting with Russia and going authoritarian at home,” she glosses over Turkey’s equally disconcerting behavior demonstrated by its regional provocations. For example, Aydintasbas noted that “one area where positive momentum in Turkish-U.S. ties can happen is the periphery--in ancient conflicts like Cyprus and Armenia.” This idea is completely fallacious, given Turkey’s recent egregious actions against both countries.

In November 2020, President Erdogan openly declared his support for a “two-state” solution in Cyprus, a notion echoed by Turkish-Cypriot “leader” Ersin Tatar. The re-opening of the beach in Varosha in October 2020 demonstrates that steps have already been taken toward advancing a two-state solution in Cyprus.

As for Armenia, Turkey supported Azerbaijan’s aggression towards Armenia and fueled the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including sending jihadists to the region to fight on behalf of Azerbaijan.

Sincerely,

Nick Larigakis President