[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 411 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 411

    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

                             July 28, 2005

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Radanovich, 
 Mr. McGovern, Mr. Pallone, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Crowley, 
and Mr. Schwarz of Michigan) submitted the following resolution; which 
        was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas the Republic of Turkey is scheduled to begin accession negotiations with 
        the European Union on October 3, 2005;
Whereas in 1993 the European Union defined the membership criteria for accession 
        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, and respect for and protection of minorities;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 353 (1974) ``requests the 
        withdrawal without delay from the Republic of Cyprus of foreign military 
        personnel present otherwise than under the authority of international 
        agreements'';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 353 ``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 Turkish troops have been in the occupied areas of Cyprus ever since the 
        illegal invasion of 1974 and the International Institute of Strategic 
        Studies (IISS) 2004-2005 Military Balance Report placed the number of 
        occupying Turkish troops at 36,000, leading United Nations Secretary 
        General Boutros-Gali to refer to Cyprus as ``one of the most highly 
        militarized areas of the world'' (section III, A, 28 of the June 7, 
        1994, Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in 
        Cyprus);
Whereas the Government of Turkey refuses to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch's 
        international status, has limited candidates for selection as the 
        Ecumenical Patriarch, and confiscated property of the Ecumenical 
        Patriarchate;
Whereas 1,479 Cypriot and Greek nationals are still missing as a result of the 
        Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974;
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 in October 2004 the European Commission recommended opening accession 
        talks with Turkey but suggested that a majority of European Union 
        ministers 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 on May 1, 2004, ten new countries entered the European Union, including 
        Cyprus, thus acquiring authority to veto any country seeking to join the 
        European Union; and
Whereas to date, Turkey has not extended its customs union to the ten new 
        European Union member states: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its view that the Republic of Turkey should 
        continue to demonstrate that it is meeting the criteria set 
        forth in the Copenhagen European Council for accession to the 
        European Union and should do so prior to the start of accession 
        negotiations currently scheduled to begin on October 3, 2005;
            (2) calls on Turkey to continue to adhere to all criteria 
        for accession to the European Union, and to extend its customs 
        union to all European Union members, and fully recognize all 
        European Union members, including the 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) urges Turkey, in accordance with the United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 353, to abandon all insistence of 
        the right to intervene in or invade Cyprus;
            (6) expresses its view that Turkey should recognize the 
        fundamental rights of all Cypriots with respect to--
                    (A) the right to own property;
                    (B) the right of free movement;
                    (C) the right of free settlement; and
                    (D) the right of return for refugees;
            (7) calls upon Turkey to work and cooperate with the United 
        Nations and Cyprus toward the discovery of the fate of every 
        missing person;
            (8) calls upon Turkey to pledge to uphold and safeguard 
        human rights without compromise; and
            (9) encourages Turkey to continue the advancement of 
        processes and programs to modernize and democratize its own 
        society.
                                 <all>