WASHINGTON (October 13, 2016) -- Supreme President Andrew C. Zachariades met with new
DAS Cohen.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Jonathan Cohen, October 12, 2016, at the U.S. Department of State.
According to Supreme President Zachariades, AHEPA raised concern about Turkey's recent claims in the Aegean, specifically President Erdogan's public criticism of the Treaty of Lausanne. Other timely policy topics discussed were: Cyprus settlement talks, religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the migrant crisis affecting Greece.
"We sincerely thank Deputy Assistant Secretary Cohen for the generous time he afforded us," Supreme President Zachariades said. "Overall, our discussion was productive and insightful. We appreciated the opportunity to voice our concerns, which we believe were heard. We look forward to working with Deputy Assistant Secretary Cohen, and his colleagues at State, especially as we head into a critical period of time for the eastern Mediterranean region."
He added, "We were pleased to learn of last week's announcement of the United States' most recent donation to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, a body with a noble mission that performs admirable work. The United States' commitment to the CMP is appreciated and applauded."
Deputy Assistant Secretary Cohen is a seasoned foreign service officer, having previously served in Nicosia, Cyprus as Deputy Chief of Mission; in Baghdad also as DCM; and in Ankara, among other key posts. Director of Southern European Affairs Mark Libby and Senior Greek Desk Officer Amy Reichert accompanied DAS Cohen. Executive Director Basil Mossaidis accompanied the supreme president.
The meeting with DAS Cohen comes on the heels of last month's meeting with new U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt.