In the crosshairs of the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was found the Turkey, during his first speech to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in House of Representatives. The US diplomatic chief criticised Ankara for the violation of Greek airspace but more generally for the provocative actions it has recently taken against our country. As he explained, these moves, combined with the acquisition of the Russian system S-400, are not in line with Turkey's NATO commitments.
«We have criticized actions, including by Turkey, which violate international law and its NATO commitments, including its provocative actions against Greece and violations of its airspace.», he noted.
Mr. Blinken acknowledged that Washington has been watching developments in the Eastern Mediterranean with real concern over the past year, with particular reference to Turkish claims. As he pointed out, the US must play an active role in helping to promote stability in the region. In this light, he said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean must be respected and made clear that resorting to provocative actions and the use of military means cannot be the basis for the resolution of disputes, which must be resolved peacefully and diplomatically.
About the Cyprus, recalling that it is an issue that the President has personally dealt with. Biden, and reiterated the long-standing US position, which supports a solution within the framework defined by the UN and rejects a two-state solution.
In conclusion, Mr.Blinken kept the window of optimism open for relations with Turkey, as he assessed that there has been a reduction in tension and that Ankara is trying to adopt a more productive approach. «I think one of the positive developments has been in the last few weeks with a significant reduction in temperature (tension) on these issues, and with Turkey working with the European Union and others, trying to move forward in a more productive way. So it's something that we're very supportive of and we will continue to help things move in that direction,» the U.S. Secretary of State said.
