In a joint letter, the Hellenic American Leadership Council and the American Jewish Committee ask American lawmakers to support Chris Pope’s amendment, which puts the brakes on the sale and upgrade of the F-16 fighter jets that Turkey already has.
Turkish delinquency and provocative rhetoric are in the crosshairs of the international community, as Athens continues its campaign of internationalization in all fora. The head of GEETHA is in the United States for contacts, while Greek and Jewish organizations ask that Ankara not take the American fighters. The German ambassador in Athens is also on the side of Athens, regarding the Turkish threat to our national sovereignty.
On the F-16 front, there are growing voices calling for Congress to red light Ankara.
In a joint letter, the Hellenic American Leadership Council and the American Jewish Committee ask American lawmakers to support Chris Pope’s amendment, which puts the brakes on the sale and upgrade of the F-16 fighter jets already available to the U.S. Turkey.
“Turkish violations of Greek airspace and armed overflights over Aegean islands have reached dangerous levels, creating a real threat to peace and stability in the region,” the letter states.
Zemenidis: “The whole diaspora is turning its back”
“We all support this effort and this amendment will definitely pass, because not only do we see powerful congressmen and Greek-Americans who support it, even if the Turks try to say only the Greek-American congressmen, but when they see who supports and who pushes the amendment know that these are very powerful Members of Parliament. Even in the Senate where the process for amendments has not yet opened, we know that Senator Menendez will bring down a similar amendment” says Eddie Zemenidis, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council.
“Jewish organizations support Greece”
“It is very important that we have the support of the Jewish organizations” emphasizes Mr. Eddie Zemenidis and explains, among other things, “because as analysts in Washington have also written, the new ambassador of Turkey has set himself the goal of getting American Jews to have warm relations with Turkey again . Once upon a time, America’s inner lobby was also American Jews. The most powerful Jewish organizations show support for Greece and dissatisfaction with Turkey.”
Amendments – block on sale of F-16 to Turkey
Mr. Panagiotopoulos will also travel to the United States on July 17. He will meet the American Minister of Defense, also having a series of contacts with both Americans and the Greek diaspora.
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