WASHINGTON 21/9/2004  (ANA/A.Ellis)
 
State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli during Monday's press briefing said that the US State Department notified Congress last week of the Greek government's unauthorized transfer of US-sold or granted defense articles to Cyprus, which violates sales terms regarding US arms sold to Greece. "This notification is required by US law," he added.

Ereli explained that he did not have specifics about the type or number of military equipment included in the notification. However, the issue is that "arms provided to Greece under a certain license were transferred to third parties. And according to the license by which you provide those products to one country, they cannot transfer them to a third party. So if they do, we're required to notify Congress."

Ereli said that the US is not asking Greece to do anything and that there is no issue of disarmament of Greek soldiers in Cyprus.

Asked whether Congress had been notified of Turkey transferring US-sold arms to Cyprus, Ereli replied that: "As far as the assertion that Ankara has done the same thing, I'm not aware of any recent case that would meet the criteria of a violation of the license; therefore, no action was taken."

Source: Athens News Agency

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