[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVISIONS OF THE FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL PERTAINING TO 
                                 TURKEY

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, the Senate recently adopted two 
amendments to the foreign operations appropriations bill which I think 
deserve further comment.
  The first of these, an amendment offered by Senator Dole, will 
prohibit U.S. assistance from going to any country that impedes the 
delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance. I am a cosponsor of this 
amendment, as well as of the original legislation on the subject, the 
Humanitarian Aid Corridors Act, and I believe strongly in the principle 
which it reflects. Countries that block our humanitarian efforts should 
not be receiving our foreign aid. I wish that such legislation were not 
necessary, but unfortunately the third largest recipient of United 
States foreign aid, Turkey, continues to prevent the delivery of most 
humanitarian assistance to neighboring Armenia. We can no longer ignore 
this situation.
  After enduring mass slaughter at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and 
more than 60 years under the repressive rule of the Soviet Union, 
Armenia has been embroiled since achieving independence 4 years ago in 
a bloody dispute with Azerbaijan to its east and has been subjected to 
an economic blockade by Turkey on the west. The United States and the 
rest of the Western community have provided humanitarian aid to help 
reduce the severe shortages of fuel, food, and other essential 
supplies. Unfortunately, Turkey has maintained a blockade on the most 
efficient land routes, thereby greatly complicating this relief effort.
  I had hoped that diplomacy alone could ensure the delivery of the 
much-needed assistance to Armenia. However, the lack of progress on the 
diplomatic front and my commitment to ensuring the unrestricted 
delivery of humanitarian assistance to Armenia--and my commitment to 
the important principle of permitting unrestricted humanitarian 
assistance to the civilian casualties of any nation--have convinced me 
that Senator Dole's legislation is necessary. I believe it is the most 
effective avenue to bring pressure to bear on those hindering the 
delivery of humanitarian assistance to Armenia.
  The second amendment I wish to discuss also affected Turkey and, had 
it been adopted, would have capped United States economic assistance to 
Turkey at $21 million. I also cosponsored this amendment, offered by 
Senator D'Amato as a way of expressing to our Turkish allies our 
extreme disappointment with their continued intransigence in Cyprus, 
their deplorable human rights record in dealing with the Kurdish 
insurgency in southeastern Turkey, and their continuing land blockade 
of Armenia.
  I am well aware of the important strategic role that Turkey played 
during the cold war and of its role in the international coalition 
during the Persian Gulf war. I appreciate the significant contributions 
Turkey has made to reasonable action and discourse in the Moslem world. 
I would like for Turkey and the United States to be close cooperating 
friendly allies. I do not relish the idea of taking punitive measures 
against a valued NATO ally, but we must look at the relationship across 
a spectrum of issues and in many areas Turkey comes up short. The 
Turkish occupation in Cyprus just entered its third decade and there 
seems to be little movement toward a settlement. The United States 
State Department reported that, despite constant urgings from the 
Western community, human rights abuses in Turkey worsened last year. 
This behavior is incompatible with Turkey's drive for inclusion in the 
European Union. Because all other means of delivering the message and 
securing altered behavior have failed, I agree that we are reduced to 
using the few remaining vehicles available to deliver our message, a 
reduction of our assistance.
  Like many of my colleagues, I want Turkey to continue as a trusted 
ally, but we cannot let our desire for good relations blind us to 
Turkey's flaws. I am pleased that Senator Dole's amendment was adopted 
and I hope that the Turkish leadership receives the message sent by 
both amendments--our relationship since the cold war has changed and 
Turkey's strategic location is no longer enough to shield them from the 
bright light of international scrutiny. I also hope that Turkey's 
response will not be intransigence and obstinacy, but instead will be 
recognition that this message comes from a nation and a people that 
values our friendship and wants our future relations to be friendly and 
cooperative and will ensure they are friendly and cooperative if Turkey 
will comport itself in accord with established standards of behavior 
for sovereign states.

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