[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26842-26846]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  COMMENDING GREECE AND TURKEY FOR PROVIDING EACH OTHER HUMANITARIAN 
         ASSISTANCE AND RESCUE RELIEF AFTER RECENT EARTHQUAKES

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 188) commending Greece and Turkey 
for their mutual and swift response to the recent earthquakes in both 
countries by providing to each other humanitarian assistance and rescue 
relief.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 188

       Whereas Greece and Turkey, two longstanding allies of the 
     United States and

[[Page 26843]]

     North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners, have each 
     recently suffered devastating earthquakes;
       Whereas Greece and Turkey have unresolved issues that have 
     led to tensions in the past;
       Whereas Greece and Turkey, in an unprecedented fashion, 
     were the first to respond to these tragedies by providing 
     their neighboring country with humanitarian assistance and 
     rescue relief that ultimately reduced the number of 
     casualties;
       Whereas Greece and Turkey were successful in putting aside 
     their differences in order to respond swiftly to these 
     crises; and
       Whereas Greece and Turkey have held successful talks to 
     begin to resolve their issues of disagreement: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commends Greece and Turkey for their mutual and swift 
     response to the recent earthquakes in both countries by 
     providing to each other humanitarian assistance and rescue 
     relief;
       (2) encourages the United States to continue its efforts in 
     aiding both countries as they seek to rebuild after these 
     tragedies;
       (3) recognizes the renewed spirit of cooperation and the 
     importance of the talks between Greece and Turkey; and
       (4) encourages Greece and Turkey to persevere in resolving 
     outstanding issues between the two countries.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The earthquake which devastated Turkey last August, Mr. Speaker, 
produced a swift reaction in neighboring Greece. Putting aside their 
bitter and longstanding political differences, the people and 
government of Greece responded to their neighbor's plight with generous 
humanitarian assistance and support.

                              {time}  1345

  The significance of this response by Greece did not go unnoticed or 
unwelcomed in Turkey, as the Turkish government as well as media 
commented very positively about Greece's quick response to this 
tragedy. In September, a strong but fortunately less destructive 
earthquake struck Athens, and Turkey was the first nation to respond in 
assistance in the form of search and rescue teams to locate survivors.
  In the aftermath of those two natural disasters, the Greek and 
Turkish foreign ministers have been meeting and agreed to continue 
discussions building on the new-found good will between the Greek and 
Turkish people aimed at resolving the issues that have produced 
tensions between these two NATO allies of our Nation.
  I commend the cochairs of our Hellenic Issues Caucus, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney), for recognizing the significance of this thaw in relations 
between our two important allies in the Eastern Mediterranean and for 
their initiative which puts the Congress on record in support of 
continuing the dialogue between Greece and Turkey so that all 
outstanding differences can be resolved. I also thank the distinguished 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), a senior member of our committee 
and chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, also an original 
cosponsor of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, we are now entering a critical stage for ensuring a 
peaceful future in that region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Next 
month, President Clinton will be visiting this region, and we hope he 
is going to use that occasion to make very clear to the government of 
Turkey our desire to see a settlement of a dispute in Cyprus on which 
Turkey needs to demonstrate a greater degree of flexibility.
  We also hope that the President will make clear our interests in 
seeing that Turkey becomes accepted fully into the European Union when 
it meets the requirements of membership. There should be no 
discrimination against Turkey in that regard. In the interim, Mr. 
Speaker, our government should do everything we can to assist and 
encourage the process of reconciliation between Greece and Turkey.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support the new spirit of 
reconciliation between Greece and Turkey and to unanimously adopt H. 
Con. Res. 188.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to give their strong 
support H. Con. Res. 188. It rarely happens in the course of human 
events that two historic enemies, through misfortune and tragedy such 
as an earthquake, suddenly find themselves looking at each other with a 
different set of eyes. This is what is happening with respect to Greece 
and Turkey.
  We have grown accustomed over decades and generations to view Greece 
and Turkey as irreconcilable opponents and even enemies, this despite 
the fact that they both are members of NATO; this despite the fact that 
both have excellent relations with the United States. The tragic 
earthquake has brought together these two historic opponents.
  I want to pay strong tribute to the leadership in both countries and 
express the hope on behalf of all of my colleagues that the beginnings 
of a more benign dialogue between Greece and Turkey might just be a 
harbinger of a new era to come. This will require a great deal of 
understanding, a great deal of acceptance on both sides; but for the 
first time in modern history, we see responsible Greek officials like 
the foreign minister making kind statements about Turkey and vice-
versa.
  Such a development, Mr. Speaker, would not only be in the interests 
of these two countries and the stability of Europe and the cohesion of 
NATO, but it would be of tremendous value to United States national 
interests. It is our earnest hope that this tragic set of events, acts 
of nature, might have brought together these two formerly opposed 
countries, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, in the place of the chairman of the 
committee, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the cosponsor of the bill.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time and for the cooperation of the gentleman and his committee and his 
staff on this piece of legislation. As a sponsor of the bill, I rise to 
urge my colleagues, as others have done, to support H. Con. Res. 188.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill commends Greece and Turkey for their mutual 
and swift humanitarian assistance to one another following two 
devastating earthquakes which rattled these two neighbors. Tensions 
between these two countries have always been high, and they have come 
to the brink of war on more than a few occasions. Although they share a 
history strong with conflicts, devastation and war, they revealed to 
the world that, in time of need, all human lives carry the same weight.
  In this devastating time, Greece and Turkey were successful in 
putting aside their differences in order to provide assistance for all 
those people who were injured, buried under the rubble, or left 
homeless by the earthquakes. Each country sent rescue workers, doctors, 
life saving equipment, blankets, and other forms of humanitarian aid to 
their neighbor. Greeks donated blood and provided schooling to Turkish 
students, all in the name of saving lives and building bonds of 
friendship, squashing previous animosity.
  The acts of humanity that these countries have shown towards one 
another have generated a new favorable world sentiment. They prove once 
again that we can achieve a more peaceful future for our people, our 
world, and our planet, through good will, communications, and 
cooperation.

[[Page 26844]]

  In recent months, government leaders and private businessmen from 
both countries have been meeting in the hopes of focusing on the 
similarities, rather than their differences, in order to forge a new 
positive relationship. They are presently holding their third round of 
talks on issues that affect both countries. These negotiations have 
created a feeling of optimism that these two nations will finally be 
able to resolve their differences.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to send a message to Greece and Turkey that we 
recognize this renewed spirit of cooperation and the importance of the 
talks between them. We should encourage Greece and Turkey to persevere 
in resolving their outstanding issues.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the actions of these two governments and these 
two peoples. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Greece and 
Turkey for their heroic and achievements by supporting H. Con. Res. 
188. Let this be a lesson to us all.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, before yielding to my good friend from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne), I would like to pay tribute to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), 
and my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), for their 
leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to yield such time 
as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), one of 
the most distinguished Members of this body and a strong leader on the 
Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me also commend the gentleman from 
California for the outstanding work he has done in being the conscience 
and the historian to this body. On many questions that come up, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) is always there with a 
historical and accurate display of what happened; and as long as we 
remember the past, then we can perhaps avoid problems in the future.
  I stand to add my support to H. Con. Res. 188, commending Greece and 
Turkey for their mutual and swift response to the recent earthquakes in 
both countries by providing each other with humanitarian assistance and 
relief. I think that it shows that there are more similarities in 
people than differences, and sometimes leaders create differences that 
should not be there.
  For Greece to respond immediately to the terrible earthquake in 
Turkey, to go there to help people in need and then having a similar 
situation, not quite the magnitude, but Turkey responding very quickly 
to Greece, I think hopefully could set the framework. Sometimes out of 
tragedy comes positive things, and perhaps this may well may be a 
welcoming situation so that leaders of both countries can see they have 
so much in common.
  They are both supporters of NATO; they both are against extremist 
elements in the region. They both are supportive of a strong European 
Union, so people not only in Western Europe but Eastern Europe and 
throughout that region will be able to prosper.
  I think both countries have a lot in common because they both have 
been so prominent in the growth and development of the world. The great 
Greek Empire that gave us philosophers like Aristide and Socrates, and 
the whole foundation of democracy which was started by the Greek 
society, and then another great empire, taken, of course, by force, but 
also showed great leadership with the Ottoman Empire that lasted for 
many, many years. So two great nations, two nations that have had so 
much to do with the growth and development of the world as we know it 
today should not be at each other's throats.
  We know of the unfortunate situation, and there was enough blame to 
go around in the 1970s when the problem in Cyprus occurred, and neither 
side's hands were totally clean. But 25 years later we should come to 
some resolution to that problem. We should admit that perhaps there 
were problems created by both sides; but we should no longer, as we 
move into a new millennium, talk about an issue that happened 25 years 
ago.
  Cypriots, whether they are Greek or Turkish, are basically the same. 
They really do not even see differences in one another. So if we could 
get the original Cyprus people together and they talk together as 
Cypriots, not as Greeks or Turkish, I think we would see perhaps a 
resolution of this problem.
  So I am in strong support and commend those who are active in the 
Helenic Caucus, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and my good friend, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), and also once again say that I 
think that it is possible for us to come up with a resolution.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the chairman of the 
Committee on Government Reform.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), with whom I have had some differences on the 
Turkish-Greek issue over the years, for being a primary sponsor on this 
bill, along with the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who came 
to me and we sat down and talked about it, and the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for her contribution. I also want to thank 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), with whom I have become 
quite a good friend over the last couple weeks and months.
  So maybe the millennium is coming, and even my good friend, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), we are all becoming closer. I 
guess the millennium is getting closer by the day. I do not think they 
are quite as bad as I thought they once were, and hopefully they do not 
think I am quite as bad as they once thought I was.
  But this resolution I think is extremely important because it sends a 
signal from the Congress of the United States to both Greek and Turkish 
governmental leaders about how we feel about their spirit of 
cooperation.
  Sometimes out of bad comes good, and the terrible tragedy that 
occurred in Turkey showed that Greek citizens and Greek governmental 
leaders were concerned about their fellow human beings in Turkey who 
were suffering. Two or three weeks later there was a terrible 
earthquake in Greece, and the Turkish government and the Turkish people 
reciprocated in kind. So an era of good feeling has evolved out of 
this.
  It is the kind of thing that sparks warmth in the human heart, when 
you see enemies who have come close to being at war with one another 
three times in the last 25 years working together because people are 
hurting.

                              {time}  1400

  Since that time, there have been three steps, four steps that have 
been taken by the two governments which are very positive. The two 
countries decided to form a joint emergency response team to deal with 
natural disasters. The Greek and Turkish diplomats have held a series 
of meetings over the past 2 months on issues such as cooperation in 
culture, tourism, environment, and combatting crime.
  During a meeting of the EU foreign ministers that was held in 
September, Greece expressed its support for Turkey's membership in the 
European Union. These are great steps in the right direction.
  This resolution will not gloss over the fact that there are still 
strong differences on the issue of Cyprus, and those issues long-term 
are going to have to be resolved. Both sides are going to have to sit 
down and work out their differences.
  But make no mistake about it, steps in the right direction have been 
taken by both Greece and Turkey. We applaud that in the Congress. We 
would like to see it continue. We want to work with both countries to 
make sure it continues. We want to congratulate them today for their 
efforts on behalf of each other in times of great crisis for their two 
countries.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it rarely happens that a freshman Member of 
this body makes as powerful an impact on our work as my good friend, 
the

[[Page 26845]]

gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois 
(Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos) for not only his leadership but his humanity, and for 
being a mentor to me on international and human rights issues in the 
short time that I have been a Member of Congress.
  I am honored and pleased to join my colleagues today in commending in 
this resolution Greece and Turkey in their mutual and prompt responses 
to earthquakes in both countries.
  On August 17, in the middle of the night, Turkey experienced an 
earthquake that claimed thousands of lives and destroyed thousands of 
buildings. For a country of any size, a tragic event like this one 
requires the help of the international community. Rescue workers from 
Greece were the first to respond to Turkey's urgent situation.
  On September 7, an earthquake occurred in Greece. The earthquake in 
Greece also caused numerous deaths and damage to property, and despite 
the strains of rebuilding after its own catastrophe, Turkey was the 
first country to react by sending rescue personnel and other resources.
  Both of these countries showed a real commitment to humanitarian 
values and to each other. When individuals were in need and the lives 
of millions of human beings were at stake, these two countries put 
aside their differences and without hesitation did their best to help 
each other through a difficult time. The prompt and generous support 
exchanged between these two longtime allies of the United States and 
NATO members led to a welcomed warming of relations that serves as a 
valuable lesson to the global community.
  It is important for the United States and the world to remain 
committed to helping Greece and Turkey through this difficult time of 
rebuilding. I look forward to doing so, and to witnessing continuing 
discussions between the Turkish and Greek governments to work out their 
remaining differences on other issues.
  Again, I commend our allies, Greece and Turkey, and I look forward to 
working with them in the years to come. I would also like to commend 
and offer thanks to my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis), the sponsor of this legislation, and the chairman and 
ranking Democratic Member of the Committee on International Relations 
for helping to bring this bill to the floor, and the other cosponsors 
of this legislation, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and 
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).
  Finally, I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of 
the victims of these two tragic events. I urge all Members to support 
this measure.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the distinguished chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. 
Campbell) for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to speak on this resolution when it 
was before the Committee on International Relations, and I also would 
like to convey the fact that I speak as the chairman of the House 
delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
  Greece and Turkey are two valuable and highly valued members of the 
NATO alliance as far as the United States is concerned. We have been 
concerned for some time about the obvious friction that has existed 
between these two NATO allies. We also have been very concerned about 
the fact that the European Union slammed the door in the face of Turkey 
when they provided their initial interest, expression of interest, in 
becoming a member, eventually, of the European Union, in part, 
allegedly because of Greek opposition to such membership.
  Out of the adversity, out of the tragedy of the earthquake that 
occurred in Turkey, Greece responded in a wonderful neighborly fashion. 
It was well received by the Turkish people and the Turkish government. 
It has provided an opportunity for improved relationships between these 
two valuable countries, and I want to commend both the government of 
Greece and the government of Turkey for the way in which they have 
reacted to the adversity.
  As mentioned perhaps a few minutes ago, when later a less severe 
earthquake took place in Greece, Turkey was quick to respond. Indeed, 
Turkey sent earthquake teams to Taiwan when they had their recent 
earthquake.
  I do hope, as the gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) said, 
that this will lead us to an opportunity for further cooperation and 
for reaching a peaceful settlement of the long-standing dispute related 
to Cyprus between Greece and Turkey, and that it in general will 
provide an opportunity for increased cooperation and friendships 
between those two countries.
  So at a time when we often come to the House floor to lament things 
that are happening, it is good to commend our friends in Greece and 
Turkey for the extraordinary conduct that they have displayed in the 
wake of the recent tragedy.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has 
brought to this body potent powers of persuasion and the commitment to 
decency and human rights across the globe.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding time to me, and for his leadership in this body 
on so many important issues, both humanitarian, international, and just 
plain good policies for the United States of America.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Hellenic Issues and as an 
original sponsor of this legislation, I rise in strong support of 
resolution 188.
  I would first like to thank the other co-chair of the Hellenic 
Caucus, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), for his support on 
this legislation and his continued good work on behalf of the people in 
Greece and Cyprus.
  I would also like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) 
for his leadership on this issue and many others, and my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), for working with us to 
develop this legislation; and of course my colleague, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman), for bringing this bill quickly to the 
floor, along with the assistance and support of the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).
  This resolution commends Greece and Turkey for their quick and 
measured response to each other in their time of great need. When the 
terrible earthquake struck Turkey in August, Greece was the first 
country, the absolute first country to send in planes and their very 
best military unit to provide aid. Just weeks later, Turkey returned 
the gesture of caring, humanitarian feelings, and friendship by 
immediately responding to the earthquake in Greece with aid in tow.
  I have also heard accounts and read in the papers that during this 
terrible aftermath of the earthquake, that Turkish papers printed for 
the first time Greek headlines thanking their friends in Greece for 
coming to help them in their great time of need. This was especially 
important because there has been great animosity between the two 
countries, great conflicts. Yet, in the hands of tragedy, these two 
countries reached across their often turbulent past with humanitarian 
aid and as helping friends.
  While this is a great step forward, we must continue to reach out to 
our allies, Greece and Turkey, to help them to build their relationship 
together. The recently witnessed good will between the two countries 
will not continue if they do not continue to build a dialogue and 
foundation between the two countries.
  After the earthquakes, there were meetings that took place between 
the

[[Page 26846]]

foreign ministers, foreign minister George Papandreou and the Greek 
foreign minister, Mr. Cem, on the disputes in the Aegean, in the 
disputes over Cyprus. They have been trying to work together for some 
just resolution. We really want to applaud their work, and hope that 
they will build a better foundation for future relations.
  The international community has seen the signs of these two countries 
working together, and we need to encourage them to continue this good 
will in resolving their ongoing differences in the ongoing talks they 
are having. We urge them to continue to resolve the conflicts between 
them. Once the dust settles from the earthquake, the problems of 
yesterday will still be there unless they build a lasting relationship.
  I really feel very strongly about the possibility of reaching a 
solution based on the foundation that they are building. Both Greece 
and Turkey are important U.S. allies. It is important also because the 
President hopes to visit these two countries, and hopefully he can be 
part of an ongoing effort to resolve some of the disputes between them.
  At this point I rise to applaud the two countries, and really to 
applaud my colleagues for bringing this issue to the floor.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
188.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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