[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 79 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 79

Expressing support for a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement to the 
                            Cyprus problem.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 2003

 Mr. Bereuter submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement to the 
                            Cyprus problem.

Whereas the United States believes there exists a historic opportunity to bring 
        a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem, to the 
        benefit of all people of Cyprus and the wider region;
Whereas a resolution of the Cyprus problem is consistent with American values of 
        promoting stability, freedom, and democracy in the world;
Whereas a resolution of the Cyprus problem is in the strategic interests of the 
        United States, given the important location of Cyprus at the crossroads 
        of Europe, Africa, and Asia;
Whereas the United States strongly supports the efforts of the office of the 
        United Nations Secretary General to achieve a comprehensive settlement 
        with respect to Cyprus in full consideration with relevant United 
        Nations Security Council resolutions and international treaties;
Whereas a just and lasting resolution of the Cyprus problem, in full 
        consideration of United Nations Security Council resolutions and 
        international treaties, must safeguard the security and fundamental 
        rights of all the population of Cyprus;
Whereas the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, on November 11, 2002, 
        submitted a proposal for the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus 
        problem, referred to as the ``Basis for an Agreement on a Comprehensive 
        Settlement of the Cyprus problem'', which he revised on December 10, 
        2002;
Whereas negotiations between the two sides, which had been ongoing, were 
        encouraged to intensify their efforts in order that that full agreement 
        could be reached by February 28, 2003, in conformity with the timetable 
        proposed by the United Nations Secretary General in his proposals;
Whereas United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan again on February 26, 2003, 
        gave the two leaders on Cyprus, and the guarantor powers, the United 
        Kingdom, Greece and Turkey, a second revision of his plan in order to 
        accommodate input from both sides;
Whereas the revised plan is the result of exhaustive efforts by the United 
        Nations and would lead to a peaceful, just and lasting settlement of the 
        longstanding division of Cyprus;
Whereas the Secretary General on February 28, 2003, at the conclusion of a 
        productive trip to Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, invited the 2 leaders to 
        meet with him at The Hague on March 10, 2003, the purpose of the meeting 
        being to sign a commitment to submit the plan to approval in separate, 
        simultaneous referenda on March 30, 2003, in order to achieve a 
        comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, and the guarantor powers 
        were also invited to attend the meeting and to sign the commitment; and
Whereas both leaders on Cyprus agreed to attend the meeting at The Hague, the 
        Secretary General stated, upon his departure from Cyprus on February 28, 
        2003, ``if one party or the other says no [to a referenda] there should 
        be no doubt that we are at the end of the road . . . [a] lot of effort 
        has gone into [a settlement] and I am not sure this opportunity will 
        come again soon, if it ever comes again'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) appreciates the efforts of the United Nations Secretary 
        General to seek a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement of the 
        Cyprus problem for the benefit of the people of Cyprus and the 
        region;
            (2) urges the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, as 
        well as the guarantor powers, the United Kingdom, Greece and 
        Turkey, to agree to sign the commitment to put in place the 
        Secretary General's plan to separate, simultaneous referenda on 
        the island on March 30, 2003;
            (3) expresses its view that the referenda must be carried 
        out in a transparent and fair manner so that the will of the 
        people of Cyprus can be democratically expressed; and
            (4) urges the people of Cyprus to participate in the 
        referenda and to vote in support of the United Nations plan for 
        a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in order to 
        bring a peaceful, just and lasting settlement which will 
        benefit all people of Cyprus.
                                 <all>