[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 407 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 407

 Expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for the 
 positive actions by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus aimed at 
 opening additional crossing points along the cease-fire line, thereby 
      contributing to efforts for the reunification of the island.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2007

 Mrs. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Space) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for the 
 positive actions by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus aimed at 
 opening additional crossing points along the cease-fire line, thereby 
      contributing to efforts for the reunification of the island.

Whereas the Republic of Cyprus has been forcibly divided since 1974, and a 
        lasting, just, and peaceful solution to the division of Cyprus would 
        greatly benefit the security as well as the economic and social well-
        being of all Cypriots and would serve the United States national 
        interests;
Whereas the achievement of a just and lasting Cyprus settlement is a central 
        objective of United States foreign policy as established by section 620C 
        of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which, inter alia, calls for the 
        withdrawal of Turkish military forces from Cyprus and a peaceful 
        solution that guarantees the human rights of all Cypriots;
Whereas since the partial lifting of the movement restrictions across the cease-
        fire line in April 2003, there have been more than 12,000,000 incident-
        free crossings, contributing to greater interaction between the Greek 
        and Turkish Cypriots;
Whereas, on July 8, 2006, President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos 
        Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, agreed, under 
        the auspices of the United Nations Under Secretary General Ibrahim 
        Gambari, to a set of principles to begin a process of bi-communal 
        discussions, the success of which would be greatly facilitated by the 
        implementation of confidence building measures;
Whereas in the spirit of the July 8 agreement, the Government of the Republic of 
        Cyprus, on March 8, 2007, demolished a wall at Ledra Street in Nicosia, 
        a key thoroughfare through the divided capital, as a gesture to 
        facilitate the opening of Ledra Street as a crossing point;
Whereas the opening of Ledra Street carries with it enormous symbolism for the 
        reunification of the divided capital of Nicosia and the island of 
        Cyprus;
Whereas, on March 27, 2007, the United Nations Security Council, in a statement 
        on Cyprus, indicated that, ``the members of the Security Council share 
        the [United Nations] Secretary General's hope that confidence-building 
        measures of this kind will be part of a broader move to resume full-
        fledged negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus 
        problem'';
Whereas according to the April 2007 survey results of the United Nations 
        Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNIFCYP), the majorities in both 
        communities say they are convinced that day-to-day bi-communal contact 
        is essential to pave the way for a united Cyprus, that the United 
        Nations has an important role to play in Cyprus, and that UNIFCYP's 
        presence on the island is essential;
Whereas, on May 3, 2007, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus took a further 
        positive action and demolished a National Guard post at Kato Pyrgos with 
        a view to opening a new crossing point in the area;
Whereas there remain considerable obstacles to the safe and secure opening of 
        Ledra Street, including the de-mining of the buffer zone, inspection of 
        the neglected buildings in the buffer zone for structural damage, and 
        most important, the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the area; and
Whereas the removal of the impediments will contribute to establishing 
        confidence between the two communities and serve as momentum for the 
        reunification of Cyprus: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for 
        the positive steps it has taken aimed at opening additional 
        crossing points along the cease-fire line which further 
        increases the social and economic interaction between the two 
        sides of the island;
            (2) expresses its belief that the opening of Ledra Street 
        in Nicosia and Kato Pyrgos crossing points will contribute to 
        building confidence between the two communities and to greater 
        social and economic interaction with positive effects in the 
        efforts for the reunification of Cyprus in a bi-zonal, bi-
        communal federation where the human rights and fundamental 
        freedoms of all Cypriots are respected;
            (3) urges the implementation of the measures needed to 
        allow for the crossing of individuals in safety and security at 
        Ledra Street, primarily the withdrawal of Turkish troops from 
        the immediate area as a necessary condition for the opening of 
        the crossing point, as well as securing that the area is free 
        of mines and inspecting the surrounding buildings for 
        structural damage; and
            (4) calls on the United States Government to continue its 
        historic support for the reunification of the island, respect 
        for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic 
        of Cyprus, and to work for the complete withdrawal of Turkish 
        troops from Cyprus.
                                 <all>