[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 247 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 247

   Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a resolution of the 
dispute between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty to the islet in the 
         Aegean Sea called Imia by Greece and Kardak by Turkey.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 17, 1996

  Mr. Specter (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a resolution of the 
dispute between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty to the islet in the 
         Aegean Sea called Imia by Greece and Kardak by Turkey.

Whereas Greece and Turkey are engaged in a dispute over sovereignty to an islet 
        in the Aegean Sea called Imia by Greece and Kardak by Turkey;
Whereas the islet is a dependent of the Island of Calimnos, an island in the 
        Dodecanese region of the Aegean Sea;
Whereas in Article 15 of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey, and Other Instruments, 
        signed at Lausanne on July 24, 1923, Turkey renounced in favor of Italy 
        all right and title of Turkey over 12 islands in the Dodecanese region 
        that were occupied at the time of the Treaty by Italy, including the 
        Island of Calimnos, and the islets dependent on such islands;
Whereas the Convention Between Italy and Turkey for the Delimitation of the 
        Territorial Waters Between the Coasts of Anatolia and the Island of 
        Castellorizio, signed at Ankara on January 4, 1932, established the 
        rights of Italy and Turkey in coastal islands, waters, and rocks in the 
        Aegean Sea and delimited a maritime frontier between the two countries;
Whereas a Protocol to that Convention established a border between Italy and 
        Turkey which placed the islet under the control of Italy;
Whereas in Article 14 of the 1947 Treaty of Peace with Italy, Italy ceded to 
        Greece the Island of Calimnos and adjacent islets;
Whereas the Eastern Mediterranean region, in which the Aegean Sea is located, is 
        a region of vital strategic importance to the United States;
Whereas both Greece and Turkey are members of the North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization and allies of the United States;
Whereas it is in the interest of the United States and other nations to have the 
        dispute resolved peacefully; and
Whereas the International Court of Justice in The Hague was established to 
        promote the peaceful resolution of international disputes in conformity 
        with international law: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Government of 
Greece and the Government of Turkey should--
            (1) submit to the International Court of Justice in The 
        Hague the dispute of such governments over sovereignty to the 
        islet in the Aegean Sea called Imia by Greece and Kardak by 
        Turkey; and
            (2) agree to be bound by the decision of the Court with 
        respect to the dispute.
                                 <all>