[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5781-S5782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 122--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
 SECURITY, RECONCILIATION, AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL CYPRIOTS CAN BE BEST 
 ACHIEVED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION WHICH 
 WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR ALL CYPRIOTS, AND 
                           FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 122

       Whereas the status quo on Cyprus remains unacceptable;
       Whereas a just and lasting resolution of the Cyprus 
     problem, on the basis of United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions, must safeguard the security and fundamental 
     rights of all citizens of Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-
     Cypriots alike;
       Whereas Cyprus is among the leading candidate countries for 
     accession to the European Union, in recognition of its 
     commitment to free markets, human rights, democracy, and the 
     rule of law;
       Whereas the European Union guarantees to all its citizens 
     the indivisible universal values of human dignity (supporting 
     fair and equal treatment of all), freedom (right to security, 
     marriage, family, among others), equality (celebrating 
     cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity), solidarity 
     (protecting workers' rights and providing social security), 
     citizens' rights (voting), and justice (holding a fair 
     trial);
       Whereas membership in the European Union will guarantee 
     each citizen of Cyprus important legal, civil, and human 
     rights, as well as the means and legal recourse necessary to 
     secure the full application of these fundamental individual 
     rights, and to promote the respect of cultural diversity and 
     traditions;
       Whereas membership in the European Union will bring 
     significant benefits to both the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-
     Cypriot communities, including new economic opportunities, 
     access to new markets, a freer exchange of goods and 
     services, balanced and sustainable development as well as the 
     free movement of persons, goods, and services and capital;
       Whereas the European Council in its Summit Conclusions of 
     December 1999, in Helsinki, stated that ``a political 
     settlement [of the Cyprus problem] will facilitate the 
     accession of Cyprus to the European Union . . . [i]f no 
     settlement has been reached by the completion of accession 
     negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be 
     made without the above being a precondition'';
       Whereas both the United States and the European Union in 
     their summit statement on the New Transatlantic Agenda of 
     June 14, 2001, pledge to continue to work together to support 
     the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to 
     achieve a comprehensive settlement with respect to Cyprus 
     consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions and to continue to work toward the resumption of 
     talks;
       Whereas resolution of the Cyprus problem is in the 
     strategic interests of the United States, given the important 
     location of Cyprus at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and 
     Asia; and
       Whereas resolution of the Cyprus problem is also consistent 
     with American values, as enshrined in the rights guaranteed 
     by the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees 
     the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the unacceptable status quo on Cyprus must be ended and 
     the island and its people be reunited, in a bizonal, 
     bicommunal federal Cyprus, on the basis of United Nations 
     Security Council resolutions;
       (2) the accession of Cyprus to the European Union would act 
     as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem without 
     the latter being a precondition for accession;
       (3) membership of Cyprus to the European Union should be 
     strongly supported;
       (4) all Cypriots be urged to support and encourage efforts 
     to bring Cyprus into the European Union; and
       (5) the various agencies of the United States Government 
     should pursue vigorously and as an issue of high and urgent 
     priority new initiatives that will help promote and achieve 
     reunification, reconciliation, stability, and prosperity on 
     Cyprus.

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution for 
myself and Senators Biden and Sarbanes expressing support for Cyprus' 
membership to the European Union, EU.
  After 27 years Cyprus remains a divided nation. As it works to 
complete final negotiations with the EU, Cyprus will have met all the 
criteria required of an EU member nation. It is expected that an 
official invitation for membership will come this December, with 
accession in 2004. As an EU member, the entire island of Cyprus will 
see economic benefits. As long as the Turkish-Cypriots recognize this 
fact, both they and Greek-Cypriots will be on the path towards further 
economic growth and integration with Europe. All Cypriots will have 
access to new markets, a freer exchange of goods and services, balanced 
and sustainable development as well as the free movement of persons, 
goods and services, and capital. But EU membership is not only about 
economic prosperity, it is also about human rights. The EU guarantees 
its members' citizens human, legal and civil rights as well as the 
means and legal recourse necessary to secure the full application of 
these fundamental individual rights.
  Last year Congressman Bilirakis introduced this legislation in the 
House of Representatives to show that body's support for Cyprus' 
accession to the EU. We are introducing this legislation today to put 
the Senate on record as well. Since January, Cypriot President Clerides 
and Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash have been meeting in direct talks 
to seek a resolution of the division of Cyprus. Although the fact that 
these meetings are taking place is a positive sign, a solution must not 
be a precondition to EU membership. In fact, the EU Council made this 
point in the Helsinki Summit in December 1999, when it stated that ``a 
political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the 
European Union . . . [i]f no settlement has been reached by the 
completion on accession negotiations, the Council's decision on 
accession will be made without the above being a precondition''.
  Cyprus' EU membership will be, and has been, a catalyst for the 
solution of the Cyprus problem. This fact is reflected in the almost 40 
direct meetings between President Clerides and Denktash have taken 
place so far this year. If it were not for Turkey's desire to be an EU 
member, knowing that other EU members could block this goal, it is 
questionable whether these talks would even be taking place. That, 
along with improved economic prosperity and guaranteed human rights, is

[[Page S5782]]

why it is vital that the Senate go on record as supporting Cyprus' EU 
membership.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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