1.This Act may be cited as the
American-Owned Property in Occupied
Cyprus Claims Act
.
2.International
Claims Settlement ActThe
International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 (22 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following new title:
<enum>VIII</enum><header>Claims against
Turkey</header>
<section id="H0C8BB3498F1F497ABCA7A9986002E6DD"><enum>801.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to provide for
the determination of the validity and amounts of claims against Turkey that
arise out of the continued exclusion of nationals of the United States from
property such nationals own that is located in those portions of the territory
of Cyprus that Turkey occupies. This title shall not be construed as
authorizing or as any intention to authorize an appropriation by the United
States for the purpose of paying such claims.</text>
</section><section id="H61449C8376DE4C3784D97592943DF3EA"><enum>802.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">As used in this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H44B19FE1237F4FFB938E63CAA4100BE7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Claimant</header><text>The
term <term>claimant</term> means any national of the United States who files a
claim under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H22ED575C23F444E4A27A775173FA2524"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Claims
Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Claims
Fund</term> means the claims fund described in section 808(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H55C016CA1AE24267BA16608D07EC71D3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The
term <term>Commission</term> means the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of
the United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7FF6D723730458EB8914156C5325315"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Cyprus</header><text>The
term <term>Cyprus</term> means the Republic of Cyprus.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDE162031399443E9A316BCE1D90E8672"><enum>(5)</enum><header>National of the
United States</header><text>The term <term>national of the United States</term>
means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H81D1B8B531F54BA689EC326E8ACE57EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a natural person who is either a citizen
of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to
the United States;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H969E4DB783904F1FB19EDF1E68CF5D4F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a natural person who acquired title to
property in Cyprus through intestate or testate succession under the laws of
the United States or of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States from or
through a natural person described in subparagraph (A); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H56B4C6559F5A47B2B779D69B01DA7132"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a corporation or other legal entity that is
organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of
the United States, if one or more natural persons described in subparagraph (A)
own, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the outstanding capital
stock or other beneficial interest of such corporation or entity.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0C77D8F377F0472CA24EF74BB0B732EC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Property</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>property</term> means any
real property or any right or interest in real property, including any
leasehold interest, held under the laws of Cyprus and located in any portion of
the territory of Cyprus that is occupied by Turkey.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H37FEC1B17AB646BD9CEFDD04AA356D6F"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Turkey</header><text>The
term <term>Turkey</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD2214B0222A444A2BFF8EFB97158044D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Republic of
Turkey;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD77627E87D3A4A1FBB2CA30F9D28AA65"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any political
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Republic of Turkey, including
the Turkish Armed Forces;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H82144D6F72124C968C2DF021112E6CC3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any agent of the Government of Turkey, or
any unincorporated association that purports to discharge any function of a
nation-state under the auspices of the Republic of Turkey, including the
unincorporated association known as the <quote>Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC67E36BB3D404F61965C29B500E3CA9D"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any organization that purports to be a
political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the unincorporated
association known as the <quote>Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB732CF2A2C6942EDB830647152C86824"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any natural person
or legal entity that purports to claim or hold any title or right to property
described in paragraph (6) under the alleged authority of any entity described
in of subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HB828D5D4448F4884B9F7A0AAC971FF2F"><enum>803.</enum><header>Commencement of
negotiations by the Secretary of State</header>
<subsection id="H12FCED01059C421A85F8DAC31DFB8ED6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The President is urged to authorize the Secretary of
State to commence negotiations with Turkey and to continue such negotiations
until an agreement is reached with respect to the payment by Turkey of claims
certified under section 806.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H771E246DC7EE465B8EC1B0C8E63AA318"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement To
receive claims</header><text>The Commission shall receive claims under section
804, determine the validity of such claims, and make awards under section 804
as of the effective date of the American-Owned Property in Occupied Cyprus
Claims Act without regard to whether or not—</text>
<paragraph id="H19CB2C9E5F6641B9AFA58C66AD844973"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the President
authorizes the Secretary of State to commence the negotiations to which
subsection (a) refers; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB77831023A0B44B9B7691EA296F04CA8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if the President
does authorize the Secretary of State to commence such negotiations, the
Secretary of State commences such negotiations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H19A00FDA41E44D90B99AF36B97AF3687"><enum>804.</enum><header>Receipt and
determination of claims</header>
<subsection id="H97EFA907BDC644838CFEB280F41D6B49"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Determination of
claims</header>
<paragraph id="H6CC077FF930F44CBAF6AD7E68FDBB5E2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall receive
and determine in accordance with applicable substantive law, including
international law, the validity and amounts of claims by nationals of the
United States against Turkey arising on or after July 20, 1974, for the fair
rental market value of the use and continued occupation by Turkey of property
located in the territory of Cyprus that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0ECC52B608D0432897DCCA6787E78EA2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is owned by such
nationals under the laws of Cyprus; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3C304A18D10E49129EB5F8CB3096240F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at the time the
exclusion from or occupation of the property began, was owned wholly or
partially, directly or indirectly, by nationals of the United States under the
laws of Cyprus.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CE1AC81D07044228B199E04C8A100C0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
Commission shall reduce the dollar amount of the fair rental market value of
each claim to the extent that possession of the property has been restored to
the claimant or the claimant has received actual and adequate compensation for
the use and occupation of the property from any source on account of the same
loss or losses for which the claim is filed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB9BE147266934D38B3708532CDB768C5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ownership Rights
Retained</header><text>No claimant shall be required nor be deemed, either
directly or indirectly, to transfer, waive, or otherwise forfeit any right of
ownership in or to the property that claimant owns under the laws of Cyprus as
a condition to or as the result of filing a claim, having the claim determined,
or accepting an award based on the claim.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF33E648CA81D4B5CA6887C94BB547AA4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Submission of
claims</header>
<paragraph id="H06DDE050583741509CAEDF7447A5C883"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement to
establish time period</header><text>Not later than 60 calendar days after the
date of the enactment of an appropriations Act that makes available funds for
the payment of administrative expenses incurred by the Commission in carrying
out this title, the Commission shall establish a period during which claimants
may submit claims under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H28F15DFFD26B4A8EAC6E8EDF4924892E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Publication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall publish in the Federal
Register the beginning and ending dates of the time period to which paragraph
(1) refers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H776682C0465648018FBC66C9DB075C71"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Time
period</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The time period to
which paragraph (1) refers may not exceed 24 consecutive calendar months
beginning with the first month following the month in which the notice is
published under paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7CFE788BB38745FBAB54AF2228DE387A"><enum>805.</enum><header>Ownership of
claims</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A claim may be
favorably considered under section 804—</text>
<paragraph id="H4934E4B7AA4B4A979631E5511C900B0B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>only if the
property right on which it is based was owned, wholly or partially, directly or
indirectly, by a national of the United States under the laws of Cyprus on the
date on which the exclusion from or occupation of the property began;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFFB62C82475C4CF3A8C6EA9EDFFC81E6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>only to the extent
that the claim has been held or acquired by one or more nationals of the United
States continuously from that date until the date on which the claim is filed
with the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HE366A95D469E47299D437149B1D1FD5A"><enum>806.</enum><header>Certification;
assigned claims</header>
<subsection id="H1CF64ED7A6C149DAA45C1EDEC03570F6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification of
Claims</header>
<paragraph id="H7D5FB53A37F04384869AB8955433696D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Certification to
the claimant</header><text>The Commission shall certify to each claimant who
files a claim under this title—</text>
<subparagraph id="H40CE3463DEA64A37AD63E1D6788C5679"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the dollar amount
determined by the Commission to be the loss suffered by the claimant that is
covered by this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5018D8EEB2844D699A9348F97FA159CD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if, on the date on
which the Commission makes the certification under subparagraph (A), Turkey is
excluding the claimant from the claimant’s property, a mathematical basis
determined by the Commission for calculating the loss suffered by the claimant
for the continued use and occupation of the property by Turkey after the date
of the award.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F1F6B9B215641EB93C171C0FA50BEBC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Certification to
the secretary of state</header><text>The Commission shall certify to the
Secretary of State—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFCE4A52B47D444F78A83B1ACCC306CAB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the dollar amount
of each claim certified under paragraph (1)(A);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H911C83BC756041E79B346246114266EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any mathematical
basis certified under paragraph (1)(B) in connection with that claim;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB83DDAFDB41404B95E57C6B9F5F799C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a statement of the
evidence upon which the Commission relied and the reasoning employed by the
Commission in determining the dollar amount described in subparagraph (A) and
the mathematical basis described in subparagraph (B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7E1DA5ED72D84BAEA89267CF0809AD4C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Assigned
Claims</header><text>In any case in which a claim under this title is assigned
by purchase before the Commission determines the amount due on that claim, the
amount so determined may not exceed the amount of actual consideration paid by
the last such assignee.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HCE1654EAF9C74B22BF357E3B3507CC28"><enum>807.</enum><header>Consolidated
awards</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">With respect to any
claim under section 804 that, at the time of the award, is vested in persons
other than the person by whom the original loss was sustained, the Commission
shall issue a consolidated award in favor of all claimants then entitled to the
award. The award shall indicate the respective interests of such claimants in
the award. All such claimants shall participate, in proportion to their
indicated interests, in any payments that may be made under this title in all
respects as if the award had been in favor of a single person.</text>
</section><section id="H3932BBE4F33A4C4CBC2EF895314A9D84"><enum>808.</enum><header>Claims
Fund</header>
<subsection id="HE3957A407430419A94276C9AD3BAB2FC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The
Secretary of the Treasury may establish in the Treasury of the United States a
Claims Fund for the payment of unsatisfied claims of nationals of the United
States against Turkey, as authorized by this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9217F60142744D5991BF04AC6A973F5B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contributions to
claims fund</header><text>The Claims Fund shall consist of such sums as may be
paid to or realized by the United States pursuant to the terms of any agreement
settling those claims described in section 804 that may be concluded between
the Governments of the United States and Turkey.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9EC3D4D4947647F4B4191F365D7629AC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Deduction of
administrative expenses</header><text>The Secretary of the Treasury shall
deduct from any amounts covered into the Claims Fund a dollar amount equal to 5
percent thereof as reimbursement to the Government of the United States for
expenses incurred by the Commission and by the Department of the Treasury in
the administration of this title. The amounts so deducted shall be covered into
the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HB09007DAA9C64CAB958A50DE0902EEB9"><enum>809.</enum><header>Award payment
procedures</header>
<subsection id="H1AEB58668A5D45EABF585E0F05DC292A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification of
awards to Secretary of the Treasury</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall certify to the
Secretary of the Treasury the dollar amount of each award made pursuant to
section 804.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7CB718A0584A4322907A1E58217D1A44"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Payment of
awards</header>
<paragraph id="H3617F6A7D3294946A88C5A6D31A9288D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Principal
amounts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon certification of
each award made under section 804, the Secretary of the Treasury shall, out of
the sums covered into the Claims Fund, make payments on account of such awards
as follows, and in the following order of priority:</text>
<subparagraph id="HC45F70041B1147F8B504AE212C25F853"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Payment in the
amount of $25,000 or the principal amount of the award, whichever is
less.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5556CA2DAFF7469EA1584C6ECA0F1DF4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Thereafter,
payments from time to time, in ratable proportions, on account of the unpaid
balance of the principal amounts of all awards according to the proportions
that the unpaid balance of such awards bear to the total amount in the Claims
Fund available for distribution at the time such payments are made.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4EFDDB1C17404B35B4C06F8B130A2A0B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Subsequent
payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After payment has
been made in full of the principal amounts of all awards pursuant to paragraph
(1), pro rata payments may be made on account of any interest that may be
allowed on such awards.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H45871664FD8B4DED8B06B1A7720BB4BD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Payments
or applications for payments under subsection (b) shall be made in accordance
with such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H62A38415153F4301AE663E393AA8E14D"><enum>810.</enum><header>Settlement
period</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Commission shall
complete its affairs in connection with the settlement of claims pursuant to
this title not later than the end of the 3-year period beginning on the final
date for the filing of claims as provided in section 804(c).</text>
</section><section id="HB9172F46304B42F8B40376CF7DDAAC92"><enum>811.</enum><header>Transfer of
records</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of
State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense shall
transfer or otherwise make available to the Commission such records and
documents relating to claims authorized by this title as may be required by the
Commission in carrying out its functions under this title.</text>
</section><section id="H33D8CE6657344B66B815B7CF44A3A870"><enum>812.</enum><header>Fees for
services</header>
<subsection id="HD1AD63A29A584796AD69D222D2A5F755"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Limitation on
fees</header>
<paragraph id="HE2635F11C4464CF1A8D7AC2FB9660800"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Remuneration on account of services
rendered on behalf of any claimant in connection with any claim filed with the
Commission under this title may not exceed 10 percent of the total dollar
amount paid pursuant to an award certified under the provisions of this title
on account of such claim.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB04E5C327D584AD0B3713388109C9C37"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notification of
agreements</header><text>Any agreement contrary to the limitation set forth in
paragraph (1) is unlawful and void.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1DB19A5267764BD9A9F63CD277CF1DE6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Penalty for
violation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person who
demands or receives any remuneration that exceeds the maximum remuneration set
forth in subsection (a) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code,
imprisoned for not more than 12 months, or both.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H0DC379645FD64361B3DC0EED196A0079"><enum>813.</enum><header>Application of
other provisions</header>
<subsection id="H71FDB2F6AA844214A4CCF9C943DC900C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<paragraph id="H7B15763F31904033B04B714D1D6317C0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Provisions</header><text>To
the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the title, the
following provisions of title I of this Act shall apply to this title:</text>
<subparagraph id="H641AC7275781429DA70F4CC466A368B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Subsections (b),
(c), (d), (e) and (h) of section 4.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H25E0521E945841C8B461E4848750429F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Subsections (c),
(d), (e) and (f) of section 7.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFF51B25FCE7A4513B158360A781889CC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reference</header><text>Any
reference to <quote>this title</quote> in the provisions described in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) is a reference to such provisions and
to this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF2FD392206F04EF683CC45FBC7A98B47"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative
procedure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as otherwise
set forth in this title and in those provisions of title I set forth in
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1), the Commission shall comply with
the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5, and the provisions of chapter 7,
of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H2D27ACC87B8A44698BCCD45B25E863D3"><enum>814.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year beginning on or after October
1, 2010, such sums as may be necessary to enable the Commission and the
Department of the Treasury to pay their respective administrative expenses
incurred in carrying out their functions under this title. Amounts appropriated
under this section may remain available until
expended.</text>
</section>.
3.Jurisdiction of
United States district courts
(a)Chapter 85 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
1370.Civil actions
by nationals of the United States who own real property in Cyprus against
private persons
(a)The
district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action that is
brought—
(1)by a national of
the United States—
(A)who holds title to
any real property under the laws of Cyprus that is located in that portion of
the territory of Cyprus that is occupied by Turkey; and
(B)who has been
excluded from that property by reason of such occupation;
(2)against any private person who for any
purpose and in any way uses, occupies, or benefits from that property at any
time during the period of such exclusion; and
(3)for the fair
rental value of the property during the period of such use, occupation, or
benefit.
(b)As
used in this section—
(1)the term
national of the United States
means—
(A)a natural person
who is either a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence to the United States;
(B)a natural person
who acquired title to property in Cyprus through intestate or testate
succession under the laws of the United States or of any State, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of
the United States from or through a natural person described in subparagraph
(A); or
(C)a corporation or
other legal entity that is organized under the laws of the United States or of
any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any
territory or possession of the United States, if one or more natural persons
described in subparagraph (A) own, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more
of the outstanding capital stock or other beneficial interest of such
corporation or entity;
(2)the term
property
means any real property or any right or interest in any
real property, including any leasehold interest, to which a national of the
United States holds title under the laws of Cyprus;
(3)the term
Turkey
means—
(A)the Republic of
Turkey;
(B)any political
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Republic of Turkey, including
the Turkish Armed Forces;
(C)any agent of or
unincorporated association that purports to discharge any function of a
nation-state under the auspices of the Republic of Turkey, including the
unincorporated association known as the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus
; and
(D)any organization
that purports to be a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the
unincorporated association known as the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus
;
(4)the term
Cyprus
means the Republic of Cyprus; and
(5)the term private person
means—
(A)any natural person who—
(i)at
any time on or after July 20, 1974, uses, occupies, or benefits from property
in Cyprus, if such use, occupation, or benefit was enabled by Turkey or any
person or entity, other than a national of the United States who held lawful
title to that property under the laws of Cyprus as of July 20, 1974; and
(ii)holds such title
when any civil action under this section is brought by reason of such use,
occupation, or benefit; and
(B)any corporation or
other legal entity that—
(i)is
organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of
the United States or under the laws of any foreign state; and
(ii)(I)at any time on or after
July 20, 1974, uses, occupies, or benefits from property in Cyprus, if such
use, occupation, or benefit was enabled by Turkey or any person or entity,
other than a national of the United States who held title to that property
under the laws of Cyprus as of July 20, 1974; and
(II)holds such title when any civil action
under this section is brought by reason of such use, occupation, or
benefit.
(c)For purposes of this section—
(1)process is served
if service is accomplished in any manner set forth in this title;
(2)the district court
shall not consider the doctrine of forum non conveniens in any civil action
asserted under this section and shall refuse to hear any motion or request by
any person or party that the civil action be dismissed on the grounds of forum
non conveniens;
(3)in determining
whether the person or party asserting the civil action has lawful title, the
district court shall apply only the laws of Cyprus in making that
determination; and
(4)in determining the
amount of any award in any civil action, the district court shall consider only
evidence of the fair rental market value of the property for each calendar year
for which the plaintiff has been excluded from its property, as that value
would have been calculated in Cyprus if the plaintiff had not been excluded
from the property.
(d)Any civil action against a private person under this
section may be brought at any time before the end of the period of 36
consecutive calendar months that begins after the last day of the month in
which the private person ceases to use, occupy, or benefit from the property
that is the subject of the action. This subsection applies in lieu of section
1658.
.
(b)The table of sections for chapter 85 of title 28,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
item:
1370. Civil actions by nationals of the
United States who own real property in Cyprus against private
persons.
.
(c)The
amendments made by this section shall apply to any cause of action arising
before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
4.
(a)Chapter 87 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
1414.Venue of civil
actions against private persons brought by nationals of the United States who
own real property in CyprusNotwithstanding any other provision of this
chapter, a civil action under section 1370 may be brought only in the District
Court for the District of Columbia or the District Court for the Southern
District of New
York.
.
(b)The table of sections for chapter 87 of title 28,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
item:
1414. Venue of civil actions against
private persons brought by nationals of the United States who own real property
in
Cyprus.
.
5.Subject to section 3(c),
this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act.