[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 493 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 493

    Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply with all European Union 
  standards and criteria prior to its accession to the European Union.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2006

Mrs. Maloney (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Weiner, Mr. 
    McCotter, Ms. Watson, Mrs. Drake, and Mr. Payne) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply with all European Union 
  standards and criteria prior to its accession to the European Union.

Whereas in 1993 the European Union (EU) defined the criteria for membership to 
        the European Union at the Copenhagen European Council, obligating 
        candidate countries to have achieved certain levels of reform, among 
        which is stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of 
        law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities, to create 
        administrative capacity for membership, and to adopt and effectively 
        implement the totality of the European Union body of law;
Whereas in February 2001 the European Parliament formally approved the Accession 
        Partnership regulations with Turkey, which set out the priorities Turkey 
        must address in order to adopt and implement European Union standards 
        and legislation;
Whereas on May 1, 2004, ten new countries entered the European Union, including 
        the Republic of Cyprus;
Whereas Turkish troops have occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus ever since 
        the illegal invasion of 1974 and the International Institute of 
        Strategic Studies (IISS) 2005-2006 Military Balance Report placed the 
        number of occupying Turkish troops at 41,000, which reinforces the 
        statement made by the United Nations Secretary-General to refer to the 
        Republic of Cyprus as ``one of the most highly militarized areas of the 
        world'' in the June 7, 1994, Report of the Secretary-General on the 
        United Nations Operation in Cyprus;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 353 (1974) ``demands an 
        immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus 
        that is in contravention of'' the sovereignty, independence, and 
        territorial integrity of Cyprus;
Whereas more than 1,400 Greek-Cypriot and Greek nationals are still missing as a 
        result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974;
Whereas in October 2004 the European Commission recommended opening accession 
        talks with Turkey but suggested that the European Union could suspend 
        talks if there is a ``serious and persistent breach of the principles of 
        liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, and fundamental freedoms'' 
        and areas of remaining concern include deficiencies in human rights 
        practices, the protection of minorities, and limitations on freedom of 
        expression, the press, and non-Muslim religions, among others;
Whereas in December 2004 the European Council agreed to open accession 
        negotiations with Turkey in October 2005, conditional upon the 
        implementation of several pieces of reform legislation, and the Council 
        specifically welcomed Turkey's decision to sign the Protocol regarding 
        the extension of its customs union to all European Union members;
Whereas the Republic of Turkey began accession negotiations with the European 
        Union on October 3, 2005;
Whereas the Negotiating Framework for Turkey instructs that ``the substance of 
        negotiations will be conducted in an Intergovernmental Conference with 
        the participation of all Member States on the one hand and the candidate 
        State on the other'';
Whereas the ``advancement of the negotiations will have to depend on the 
        accomplishment of the priorities set out in the Accession Partnership, 
        the requirements of the Negotiation Framework and the full 
        implementation of the provisions stemming from the Association Agreement 
        (Ankara Agreement) and the Additional Protocol thereto'' (as stated in 
        the European Commission report on Turkey's progress towards accession, 
        September 13, 2006);
Whereas Turkey has not implemented the Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement;
Whereas this results, inter alia, in a continued embargo against vessels flying 
        the Cypriot flag as well as all vessels approaching from harbors in the 
        Republic of Cyprus, denying them access to Turkish ports, and against 
        Cypriot aircraft, denying them flying rights over Turkey and landing 
        rights at Turkish airports;
Whereas, as stated in the Declaration of the European Community and its Member 
        States of 21 September 2005 and in the conclusions of the European 
        Council of 15-16 June 2006, the European Union will closely monitor and 
        evaluate full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Ankara Protocol 
        by Turkey in 2006;
Whereas more than 133 churches, chapels, and monasteries that are located in the 
        northern part of Cyprus controlled by the Turkish army since 1974 have 
        been desecrated, 78 churches have been converted into mosques, 28 are 
        used as military depots and hospitals, and 13 are used as stockyards, 
        and their ecclesiastical items, including more than 15,000 icons, have 
        been illegally removed and their location remains unknown;
Whereas Turkey has yet to implement outstanding decisions of the European Court 
        of Human Rights (ECHR), including decisions concerning the Republic of 
        Cyprus; and
Whereas judgments were delivered in 290 cases by the ECHR in 2005, 270 of which 
        contained a finding of at least one violation by Turkey: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress--
            (1) expresses its view that the Republic of Turkey should 
        demonstrate that it is meeting the criteria set forth in the 
        Copenhagen European Council for accession to the European 
        Union;
            (2) calls on Turkey to adhere to all criteria for accession 
        to the European Union, to extend its customs union to all 
        European Union members in 2006, and to recognize all European 
        Union members, including the Republic of Cyprus;
            (3) calls on Turkey to respect European Union laws and 
        demonstrate that it is willing to abide by such laws;
            (4) urges the removal of Turkish occupation forces from the 
        northern one-third of Cyprus in accordance with United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 353 (1974);
            (5) expresses its view that Turkey should recognize and 
        respect the fundamental rights of all Cypriots, including the 
        right to own property, the right of free movement, the right of 
        free settlement, and the right of return for refugees;
            (6) calls upon Turkey to pledge to uphold and safeguard 
        human, religious, and cultural rights without compromise; and
            (7) encourages Turkey to continue the advancement of 
        processes and programs to modernize and democratize its own 
        society.
                                 <all>