AHI says US ban on arms sales to Cyprus 'unlawful'

The US prohibition on sales of defense and military technology to Cyprus is "unlawful" and can be removed without the need for legislation, a Greek American lobby group has said.

"We contend the State Department has the legal authority to remedy what has been, for years, an unlawful prohibition on arms transfers to the Republic of Cyprus," American Hellenic Institute (AHI) president Nick Larigakis said.

"We urge the State Department to exercise the requisite political will to get this done. It is in the best interests of the United States for the Republic of Cyprus to look to the United States, and not any other nation, to procure its defense materials," he added.

His comments came as the AHI announced the publication of a five-page briefing on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), under which the US has banned the sales of US defense articles and...