“This trilateral agreement, between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, many people in this city (Washington, DC) will tell you that this is a natural alignment. The United States with those three states in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, which brings me to the importance of highlighting the Eastern Mediterranean as a geographical and geopolitical region, which is of direct concern to the Western family of nations…So, it’s very important that Congress has picked up on this and that there is new legislation, which does not talk about Greece or Cyprus or Israel, but talks about the Eastern Mediterranean region.”

– Ambassador Haris Lalacos

“This legislation will focus on this region, a region central to US national security. It is central to European efforts to diversify its energy sources away from countries like Russia. And is central to our mission to build stronger bonds among democracies, particularly in that part of the world. Including countries like Greece, they offer the concept of democracy. Including countries like Cyprus, which face an invasion in 1974 and then face an economic invasion today in the form of Turkey’s violation of its Exclusive Economic Zone. And including countries like Israel, our stalwart ally and the only viable democracy in the Middle East. When we pass this legislation and I am increasingly confident that we will get there because we have a growing number of members in a bi-partisan way, who have expressed interest in the legislation. We will send a clear message to the countries of the Eastern-Mediterranean that the United States of America is your friend and your partner and we are dedicated to our mutual success. Let me be clear, as I said when I was visiting in Greece and Cyprus, this bill would be necessary, even if we had a perfect ally in Turkey. This is not in response to Turkey’s latest actions, it is independent of them. It would be as important even if Turkey was the perfect partner. Our interest in the Eastern-Mediterranean are significant, too significant to ignore.”

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Sponsor of S. 1102 Eastern Mediterranean Partnership Act

“The significant energy finds in the Eastern-Med have been a game-changer. You know that and we know that; it is time for my colleagues and the world to understand that as well. The prospects for energy independence, for a country like Israel, for greater connectivity between Israel, Cyprus and Greece and North Africa, the economic benefits and the ability to reduce dependence on Russian oil are all things that will impact the region and will help advance United States interests. That’s why this is so important. Further, the bill makes clear, and this is critical, the bill makes clear without ambiguity, there is bi-partisan support for lifting the restrictions in US security assistance and arms for Cyprus. We share too many of the same strategic objectives to not have the inter-operability, to be able to cooperate on security.”

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) co-author of HR 2913 – Eastern Mediterranean Partnership Act