Julie Fishman Rayman, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs of the American Jewish Committee, reaffirmed during the PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus) Conference in Washington DC, AJC’s support to Cyprus, saying it has ‘consistently advocated for peaceful reunification of Cyprus.’
She said ‘the people of Cyprus deserve better’ and should have ‘a future free from occupation, a sovereign state without foreign armies on their soil, without foreign powers claiming the rights of intervention.’ She noted that the Cyprus issue remains central, but emphasized that today ‘Cyprus’ legacy extends so much farther than the Cyprus question’.
Rayman highlighted the emergence of an Eastern Mediterranean strategic framework, saying there is now ‘an eastern Mediterranean security, architecture, and strategic framework’ that is changing how regional issues are discussed.
She referred to the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act as ‘a pivotal shift’ and said the launch of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center would mark ‘an exciting new milestone.’ She said joint military exercises among the ‘3+1’ are now ‘routine,’ strategic consultations are taking place ‘all the time,’ and economic cooperation is ‘expanding by the day’.
She also spoke about the aftermath of October 7, 2023, saying that Greece and Cyprus ‘stood by Israel in a way that the Israeli people and the Jewish people will never, ever forget.’ Referring to Cyprus’ humanitarian corridor to Gaza, she said it has shown that ‘security and compassion can coexist’ and that ‘principles speak louder than politics.’ Peace, she added, is not achieved by ‘slogans’ or ‘performative response,’ but through ‘responsible leadership,’ ‘practical cooperation,’ ‘relationships and economic integration.’
Closing her remarks, Rayman thanked the Hellenic community for standing with American Jews and Israel ‘even when it’s not politically convenient, even when it’s not easy.’ She said the Jewish community remained committed to standing with Cyprus ‘until the Cyprus question is resolved’.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.