109 HCON 493 IH: Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply U.S. House of Representatives 2006-09-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

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

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.