[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 627 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 627

 Supporting the removal of Turkish occupation troops from the Republic 
                               of Cyprus.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 4, 2007

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the removal of Turkish occupation troops from the Republic 
                               of Cyprus.

Whereas Turkish occupation troops have been in Cyprus ever since the illegal 
        invasion of July 20, 1974, with the illegal use of United States-
        supplied arms and equipment in violation of the Foreign Assistance Act 
        of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act;
Whereas the number of these troops has increased over the last three decades so 
        that there are now more than 43,000 Turkish troops in the occupied part 
        of Cyprus, making this area one of the most militarized in the world;
Whereas the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable;
Whereas the United States has shown consistent interest in a negotiated 
        settlement of the Cyprus problem and has encouraged every effort in that 
        direction;
Whereas the Republic of Cyprus has proven itself to be a reliable partner of the 
        United States;
Whereas the Republic of Cyprus played an exceptional role in evacuating 14,000 
        Americans from Lebanon in the summer of 2006;
Whereas the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has implemented a package of 
        measures to assist the Turkish Cypriots by ensuring that they can enjoy 
        the same rights and privileges enjoyed by all other citizens of the 
        Republic of Cyprus, such as free movement of goods, free healthcare and 
        education, commerce, and employment opportunities;
Whereas since the partial lifting of the restrictions along the cease-fire line 
        in April 2003 there have been more than thirteen million incident-free 
        crossings;
Whereas thousands of Turkish Cypriots cross every day to work in the government-
        controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus;
Whereas the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union on May 1, 
        2004, has opened new avenues for the resolution of the division of the 
        island and provided a greater sense of security for both Greek Cypriots 
        and Turkish Cypriots;
Whereas more than sixty thousand official documents of the Republic of Cyprus 
        have been issued to Turkish Cypriots, including more than thirty 
        thousand passports, as a result of which Turkish Cypriots can enjoy the 
        same benefits granted to all European Union citizens;
Whereas the United States has long supported United Nations efforts for the 
        reunification of Cyprus within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, as 
        set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions;
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, to establish working groups and technical 
        committees to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations leading to 
        a comprehensive settlement;
Whereas the United States Government supports the July 8, 2006, agreement as the 
        way forward to the resumption of substantive negotiations; and
Whereas goodwill and mutual confidence are necessary for a peaceful and lasting 
        resolution of the Cyprus problem: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) wishing to accelerate the momentum for the 
        reunification of the island, urges the immediate withdrawal of 
        the Turkish occupation troops from the Republic of Cyprus;
            (2) calls upon the Government of the United States to 
        advocate for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish forces from 
        the occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus; and
            (3) expresses its support for the immediate implementation 
        of the July 8, 2006, agreement as the best way forward to 
        prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading to the 
        reunification of Cyprus.
                                 <all>