Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions Erik Woodhouse reaffirmed US' strong partnership with the Republic of Cyprus in enforcing sanctions against Russia in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with journalists during his visit to Cyprus, Woodhouse commended the country's efforts in implementing and enforcing sanctions against Russia. He highlighted that the sanctions and export control measures imposed on Russia have taken a toll on its military capabilities, materials, and financing, and expressed the US government's commitment to continue these efforts as long as Russia persists in its aggression.
'We will continue to expand and intensify the sanctions and export control measures that we have put in place for as long as it takes', he said.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary clarified that the sanctions are targeted specifically at Russia and individuals and entities involved in its harmful activities, not the people or government of Cyprus.
He added that they are focused on undermining and limiting Russia's ability to evade and circumvent sanctions, by working through networks that they find around the world.
'As long as our activity continues, we will continue our actions as well', he said answering in a question on whether there would be more further sanctions.
He praised Cyprus for its continuous efforts to improve oversight in the financial sector, reducing the activities of shell companies, and raising standards to effectively implement and enforce the sanctions.
'The message from the government following our recent actions was clear and strong and we think that was very important and that starts at the very top with the message that the President himself sent' he said.
He added that they were looking forward to continue to work with the government on these problems in the months ahead.
Saying that there's always more work to be done in many countries, he added that in Cyprus as well what's important was to raise standards generally.
'The government has made clear its strong and deep commitment to follow through and I think appropriately, are still in the process of deciding what their exact right steps will be and that's just the normal part of policy making', he said.
He also said that they have shared information with the Government of Cyprus and that they will continue to do so.
He also expressed his appreciation for the productive discussions with both the government and private sector representatives in Cyprus. He assured that the insights and feedback gathered during his visit would inform policy-making in Washington as the US continues to support Cyprus in countering Russian activity.
'I think there's a deep commitment here to making progress and an interest in finding the right way to do so', he said.
He added that he assured them that the US as the EU have taken action targeting Russian companies in many places of the world. 'It's a matter of targeting Russia and its activities wherever we find it' he said.
He said that part of the aim of his visit here was to communicate US support to the Republic of Cyprus' government and the private sector here for their work enforcing and implementing sanctions and to discuss next steps on this front.
Woodhouse acknowledged that while the sanctions have had an impact on Russia's military capabilities and revenue, they have not yet achieved the objective of ending the war in Ukraine. He stressed the need to remain vigilant as Russia may try to find ways to evade and circumvent the measures, necessitating continuous expansion and intensification of the sanctions.
Woodhouse also said that the partnership between the US and the EU has been exceptional and that Cyprus as a member state of the EU has been an important part of that effort.
'We believe that the unity among our partners and allies will remain strong and we will continue to work with partners particular the EU and with the government of Cyprus in these efforts' he said.
He also said that US sanctions were not unilateral but are taken as part of multilateral effort that involves very close partnership with the EU as well as partners around the G7 and elsewhere in the world.
Source: Cyprus News Agency