The United States is not insisting on abandoning the EastMed pipeline, it is simply expressing concern about energy developments, said US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland.
As he explained during an interview with ERT, the final decision on this project will have to be made by the countries involved.
Continuing, the US Undersecretary described the violations of Greek airspace by Turkey as provocative, stressing that talks with Ankara on a possible purchase of F-16 aircraft have not been completed.
In addition, Ms. Nuland announced the participation of Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken in the tripartite cooperation scheme of Greece, Cyprus, Israel in the coming weeks, while in relation to the Cyprus issue, she clarified that she has clearly explained to the occupying Tatar leader that a two-state solution Cyprus is not acceptable to the US.
Asked why she went “empty-handed” to Greece – which is the most reliable ally – while offering Turkey – which has taken a far more than clear position in the Ukraine war – the creation of a strategic mechanism, Ms. Nuland replied that «The United States has had a Strategic Dialogue with Greece for many years, even at the level of Foreign Minister. We saw another round of this dialogue in the fall. My trip was primarily a thank you trip to Greece which is such a steadfast ally. I would like to thank you for the progress we have made together, but also for drawing up our strategy on how we will continue to ensure that Europe has energy and how we continue to help Ukraine. It was therefore also a purely strategic debate. Now in relation to the strategic mechanism that we launched in Turkey, it is something that Greece has had for many years.».
In fact, at this point he added that in the coming weeks Anthony Blinken will participate in the tripartite cooperation scheme of Greece, Cyprus, Israel, thus sending the best message of support.
As Mrs. Nuland noted“The United States strongly supports this cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Israel and I had the opportunity to attend the meeting with the three Foreign Ministers recently. I believe that we will have a meeting very soon, in the coming weeks, between the three ministers with my minister, with Foreign Minister Blinken, to emphasize the importance of this format and the work that they are trying to do together, that we are all trying to do. together, for energy, for maritime safety and for other important issues. “
Regarding energy developments, he was asked why the US insists on reiterating that the EastMed pipeline has no future at a time when the countries involved seem to have a different view.
For her part, the US Secretary of State clarified that “the US does not insist on anything and if the countries in the region decide that they want to proceed with this project, they will do it. Our concern is the one I expressed in Greece, namely that the project is extremely expensive, the waters are very deep, and it may take ten years or more to complete when everyone needs energy here and now. Greece is already an energy hub and we believe that there are faster, more efficient and more productive ways to transfer energy to the region, including exploring other areas, through power cables, etc. It obviously depends on the countries in the region if they want to move forward with the project, but our concern is that in ten years we want to be all hydrocarbon dependent and focused on clean energy. So now we have to maximize those solutions that are fast and can benefit everyone. “
In relation to her recent trip to the occupied territories said that he explained very clearly to Mr. Tatar that the US supports the solution of the bi-zonal bi-communal federation and not the solution of the two states that he proposes.
Asked why US officials continue to visit him as he now moves outside the UN negotiating framework, Victoria Nuland replied that “it is a regular US tactic when we go to the Republic of Cyprus, to always visit the North as well. For many decades, as you know, President Biden, when he was Vice President and I, when I was Undersecretary of State, have been trying to encourage negotiations for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation. “I made it very clear to Mr. Tatar that the United States supports a bi-zonal bi-communal federation and we do not support the two-state solution proposed by the North.”
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
