[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 182 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 182

 Entitled ``A Call for Humanitarian Assistance to the Pontian Greeks''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            February 23 (legislative day, February 22), 1994

 Mr. D'Amato submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Entitled ``A Call for Humanitarian Assistance to the Pontian Greeks''.

Whereas the Pontian Greeks originally settled in northern Turkey in the late 
        19th and early 20th centuries to escape the ravages of war and since 
        then have found themselves alternately both discriminated against as 
        well as innocent victims of brutal wars;
Whereas the Pontian Greeks have been subject to severe discrimination and 
        torture since the early 1900's due to their ethnic and cultural 
        identity;
Whereas the Pontian Greeks have historically been denied their right to develop 
        their own culture and study their history, first under the Ottoman 
        Empire and later while under the Soviet Empire;
Whereas the Pontian Greeks are, in part, descendants of Greeks who were uprooted 
        and forcibly resettled in Georgia in the 1930's by Stalin during 
        collectivization drives out of fear of divided loyalties;
Whereas this population of 15,000 is now cut off from supply lines and 
        distribution networks by both winter storms and a brutal civil war of a 
        year-and-a-half;
Whereas both the battle-scarred Greek settlements and their refugee camps are 
        located in the center of this savage war;
Whereas existing supplies are rapidly eroding, leaving Greeks on the brink of 
        starvation and forced to endure a long winter without clothing, 
        medicine, water, or electricity;
Whereas the remaining supplies of this small minority are subject to widespread 
        looting;
Whereas many Greeks are forced to undertake a dangerous sealift in order to 
        emigrate to Greece out of a desperate attempt to escape this dire 
        situation; and
Whereas the Pontian Greeks face certain death without outside assistance: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States should take the lead in organizing 
international humanitarian efforts to aid this destitute population.

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