[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2497. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. ENDING THE CYPRUS ARMS EMBARGO.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``End 
     the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Republic of Cyprus is a vital strategic partner to 
     the United States.
       (2) The Republic of Cyprus is a critical member of the 
     Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the 
     Levant.
       (3) The United States cooperates closely with the Republic 
     of Cyprus through information sharing agreements.
       (4) High-level United States officials have assisted the 
     Republic of Cyprus with crafting that nation's national 
     security strategy.
       (5) The United States provides training to Cypriot 
     officials in areas such as cybersecurity, counterterrorism, 
     and explosive ordinance disposal and stockpile management.
       (6) The Republic of Cyprus is a valued member of the 
     Proliferation Security Initiative to combat the trafficking 
     of weapons of mass destruction.
       (7) The Republic of Cyprus continues to work closely with 
     the United Nations and regional partners in Europe--
       (A) to combat terrorism through law enforcement;
       (B) to counter violent extremism programs; and
       (C) to combat terrorism through financial mechanisms.
       (8) The United States and the Republic of Cyprus maintain 
     strong bilateral economic relations, particularly in sectors 
     such as energy, financial services, and logistics.
       (9) The energy exploration in the Republic of Cyprus's 
     Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters--
       (A) includes the participation of United States companies;
       (B) furthers United States interests by providing a 
     potential alternative to Russian gas for United States allies 
     and partners; and
       (C) should not be impeded by other sovereign states.
       (10) Energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean region 
     must be safeguarded against threats posed by terrorist and 
     extremist groups, including Hezbollah and others.
       (11) Despite robust economic and security relations with 
     the United States, the Republic of Cyprus has been subject to 
     a United States embargo prohibiting the export of defense 
     articles and services since 1987.
       (12) The 1987 arms embargo was designed to restrict United 
     States arms sales and transfer to the Republic of Cyprus and 
     the occupied part of Cyprus to avoid hindering reunification 
     efforts.
       (13) At least 30,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the 
     occupied part of Cyprus with weapons procured from the United 
     States through mainland Turkey.
       (14) While the United States has, as a matter of policy, 
     avoided the provision of defense articles and services to the 
     Republic of Cyprus, the Government of Cyprus has sought to 
     obtain these defense articles from other countries, including 
     countries that pose challenges to United States interests 
     around the world.
       (15) The security of partners in the Eastern Mediterranean 
     region is critical to the security of the United States and 
     Europe.
       (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the direct sale or transfer of arms by the United 
     States to the Republic of Cyprus would advance United States' 
     security interests in Europe by helping to reduce the 
     dependence of Cyprus on other countries for defense-related 
     materiel, including countries that pose challenges to United 
     States interests around the world; and
       (2) it is in the interest of the United States--
       (A) to continue to support United Nations-facilitated 
     efforts toward a comprehensive solution to the division of 
     Cyprus;
       (B) to affirm the importance of demilitarization on the 
     island of Cyprus; and
       (C) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's Partnership 
     for Peace program.
       (d) Repeal of Prohibition on Transfer of Articles on the 
     United States Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus.--
       (1) In general.--Section 620C of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373) is amended by striking subsection 
     (e).
       (2) Exclusion of the government of the republic of cyprus 
     from certain related regulations.--Beginning on the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
     exclude any application made with or under the authority of 
     the Government of the Republic of Cyprus from the 
     restrictions set forth in--
       (A) section 126.1(r) of title 22, Code of Federal 
     Regulations (relating to prohibited exports, imports, and 
     sales to or from Cyprus); and
       (B) Department of State Public Notice 1738 (57 Fed. Reg. 
     60265; December 18, 1992; relating to policy governing 
     munitions export licenses to Cyprus).
                                 ______