[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.
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