[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 151 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S11714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CYPRUS' MEMBERSHIP TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, the Senate has recently passed by unanimous 
consent a resolution, S. Con. Res. 122, that I, along with Senators 
Biden and Sarbanes introduced expressing support for Cyprus' membership 
in the European Union, EU. This is a timely and significant statement 
of support for the Senate to make on the cusp of Cyprus' membership and 
I would like to thank Senators Biden and Sarbanes for their efforts 
toward achieving the passage of S. Con. Res. 122.
  Just this past month, Cyprus moved yet another step closer to its 
goal of EU membership. At the end of October, the 15 European nations 
met in Brussels and endorsed the recommendations of the European 
Commission that Cyprus and nine other countries become EU members in 
2004. It was agreed that Cyprus had fulfilled the political criteria 
for accession and will be able to meet the economic criteria and assume 
the obligations of membership. It is expected that an official 
invitation for membership will be expanded this December, with 
accession in 2004.
  The EU countries did reaffirm the call for continuing efforts by 
President Clerides and Turkish-Cypriots to work toward a solution to 
the Cyprus problem by the end of the year. However, as was stated at 
the Helsinki Summit in 1999, such a solution is not a precondition for 
Cyprus' membership.
  After 27 years Cyprus remains a divided nation. However, as an EU 
member, the entire island of Cyprus will see economic benefits. 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 citizens of its members human, 
legal and civil rights as well as the means and legal recourse 
necessary to secure the full application of these fundamental 
individual rights.
  Moreover, Cyprus' EU membership will be, and has been, a catalyst for 
the solution to the Cyprus problem as the mere prospect of membership 
has already yielded progress. That Cypriot President Clerides and 
Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash have been meeting since January in 
direct talks to seek a resolution of the division of Cyprus is seen as 
evidence of the positive leverage exacted by expected EU accession.
  As a result of these continuous meetings, other international efforts 
have occurred such as the recent submission by the U.N. Secretary 
General of a comprehensive proposal for the solution of the Cyprus 
problem. If it were not for Turkey's desire to also 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 why it was 
vital that the Senate go on record as supporting Cyprus' EU membership.

                          ____________________