Press Release – Coordinated Effort of Hellenes
For Immediate Release
After reading the letter of Philip Christopher, President of PSEKA, to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the illegal and provocative arrest of five elderly Greek Cypriot citizens on the charge of trespassing for visiting their homes in the illegally occupied area of Cyprus, Ms. Christine Lawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State participated in a zoom call with Christopher. To address this specific urgent situation, he strongly urged the State Department to condemn the provocative illegal action of the pseudo state in the north of Cyprus for the following reasons.
- The Republic of Cyprus is a strong strategic partner of the United States.
- Public opinion in Cyprus expects a statement from their ally America condemning this provocative action.
- Two thousand American citizens who own homes and property in the occupied area are now in danger when they visit the homes they own in the occupied area.
The State Department officials expressed their appreciation for the briefing and discussion. And, after consulting with other pertinent officials in the State Department about this problem, the officials expressed the seriousness with which they take this matter by committing to monitor it very closely and to maintain ongoing communication with other pertinent parts of the State Department in Washington, D.C. and Nicosia. They asked that we keep them updated on this issue and that they would do the same for us.