From: MHA72@ALBNYVM1.BITNET (Marios H. Agrotes)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.hellas
Subject: Washington Report tou AHIPAC, Oktwbriou '92
Date: 6 Nov 92 22:52:11 GMT
Reply-To: "Marios H. Agrotes" <MHA72@ALBNYVM1.BITNET>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

Mexri na brw kai na antigrapsw to ar0ro gia tis idees Ghali, para0etw
gia osous tyxon endiaferontai, to "WASHINGTON REPORT" No. 186, ths 9hs
Oktwbriou 1992 tou AHIPAC (American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs
Committee, Inc. - tou Ellhnikou lobbying organismou sthn Washington).


Marios
=====================================================================

 W A S H I N G T O N    R E P O R T
 -----------------------------------

AMERICAN HELLENIC INSTITUTE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,
INC.,  OCTOBER 9 1992. NO. 186

I.   -- CONGRESS ELIMINATES GRANT MILITARY AID FOR
         TURKEY IN A MAJOR POLICY SHIFT.
     -- CONGRESSMEN DAVID OBEY (D-WI). BILL GREEN (R-NY)
         AND JOHN PORTER (R-IL) AND SENATORS PATRICK
         LEAHY (D-VT), AL D'AMATO (D-NY) AND MARK HATFIELD
         (R-OR) LED THE EFFORT THAT DEFEATED THE CHAIRMAN
         OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS  COMMITTEE  ROBERT BYRD (D-WV).


     The House-Senate Conference on the FY1993 Foreign
Operations Appropriations Bill adopted the House
position on U.S. military aid to Turkey, namely loans
instead of grants. The House position was led by
Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations, David Obey (D-WI) and Congressmen
John Porter    (R-IL) and Bill Green (R-NY), also
members of the Subcommittee.

     Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations and Senators Al D'Amato (R-NY) and Mark
Hatfield (R-OR) led the effort in the Senate
Subcommittee which adopted the House position of loans
to Turkey and not military grant aid and supported the
House position in the Conference Committee.

     It was the first defeat for Robert Byrd (D-WV),
Chairman of the full Senate Appropriations Committee,
on aid to Turkey in his many years as the main
supporter of Turkey in the U.S. Senate.

     The conversion of Turkey's military aid from
grants to loans is a significant victory. This action
sends a powerful signal to Turkey that Congress, facing
a huge budget deficit, will not continue its business
as usual policy in the face of Turkey's "ethnic
cleansing" against its Kurdish minority (20%) and the
small Greek minority in Turkey and in Cyprus against
the Greek Cypriots.

     The House bill called for $450 million in military
aid to Turkey in the form of loans instead of grants.
The administration had requested grants. (Last year
Turkey received $500 million in military grant aid.)
The Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations, led by
Chairman Leahy adopted the House position.

     However, Senator Byrd (D-WV), the powerful
Chairman of the full Senate Appropriations Committee
and Turkey's leading proponent in Congress, engineered
an amendment introduced by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS)
giving Turkey grant military aid. The Cochran amendment
was passed by the full Appropriations Committee on
September 23, 1992, by a vote of 15 to 9.

     A House-Senate conference committee was then
appointed to reconcile the differences between the
House and Senate versions of the bill. The form of
Turkey's military aid became a matter of contention
when the conference met on Friday, October 2.
Congressman Obey, with strong support from Congressmen
Green and Porter, held to their positions and were
supported by Senator Leaky. A meeting among Senators
Byrd and Leahy and Congressman Obey did not result in
an agreement. After Mr. Obey threatened a fight on the
floor of the House on this issue, a compromise was
reached: Turkey will receive $450 million and Greece
$315 million in military aid, both as loans at
concessionary rates, but Turkey's grant economic aid
was increased by $50 million to approximately $125
million. Thus $400 million in grant aid to Turkey was
removed

     The American Hellenic Institute has long demanded
that the terms regarding loan and grants of military
aid to Greece and Turkey be equal in order for the 7:10
ratio to be Truly effective
The House passed the final version of the bill, H.R.
5368, on Monday, October 5, 1992 by 312-105. The Senate
passed it in a voice vote later that evening. Cyprus
will receive $15 million in economic assistance.


           7:10 Military Aid Ratio Preserved
           ---------------------------------

     The Cochran amendment of September 23 also created
a loophole that threatened the 7:10 ratio. That
loophole was closed by a technical amendment offered by
Senators Bob Kasten (R-WI) and Al D ' Amato (R-NY )
when the f pull Senate debated the Foreign Operations
bill on Wednesday, September 30, 1992. The bill was
passed by an 87-12 margin.


  Organizations and Persons in the Community Deserve
                        Credit

     All AHIPAC members and friends and other
organizations including AHEPA, the Cyprus Federation of
America, and a number of professional and regional
organizations with whom we worked closely helped to
mobilize their communities for calls to their senators
and representatives, and deserve congratulations.

     Congressman David Obey and Senator Bob Kasten were
key players in the legislative process this year, and
AHIPAC wishes to acknowledge the efforts of our
Wisconsin members: John Galanis, Andrew Spheeris, Nick
Topetzes and all others recruited by them.

     Senator Hatfield (R-OR), the ranking Republican on
the full Appropriations Committee, was a key supporter
of the new policy. Special thanks are also in order for
Alex Christy, Dr. John Lingas, E. John Rumpakis and
their colleagues in Oregon.

     In New York, Congressmen Jill Green and Senator Al
D'Amato played key roles. Particular thanks go to
Orestes Varvitsiotes, Chris Pappas, our Upstate
Chairman Peter Baltis, Tom Cholakis, John CholakLs, and
many others.

     California had the largest number of co-sponsors
of H.R. 4399. Angelo Tsakopoulos, Aris Anagnos, Dr.
Anastasios Simonides and Lou Pappan were instrumental
in our success out West. Many others in every state
participated.

     The Order of AHEPA, its Cyprus and Hellenic
Affairs Committee, and its Washington Headquarters
staff played a leading role efforts throughout the
year.


     AHIPAC's actions throughout the year included:

1.   Initiation with Representative Bill Green (R-NY)
of H.R. 4399, on behalf of himself and
Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Bob Mrazek
(D-NY) and Mike Bilirakis (R-FL);
2.   Efforts with our community congressional contacts
and members of Congress and their staffs resulting
in 65 cosponsors of H.R. 4399
3.   Several letters to the entire Congress detailing
the arguments against military and economic aid to
Turkey;
4.   Support of Congressman Bilirakis' Human Rights
Caucus hearings on  Turkey and the kidnapped 5
Americans and the 1614 missing Greek Cypriots;
5.   The initiation with Representatives Bilirakis and
Pelosi of the Special Order on the House floor in
July, 1992, commemorating the 18th anniversary of
Turkey's illegal occupation of Cyprus;
6.   Testimony before the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on  Europe;
7.   Testimony before the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittees on Foreign Operations
on the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
8.   Testimony before the Democratic Platform Committee
on May 18, 1992, in Cleveland, Ohio, and the
Republican Platform Committee on June 15, 1992, in
Washington, D.C.

     It is unfortunate that H.R. 5368, the Foreign
Operations Appropriations Act, 1993, continues to
provide grant economic aid to Turkey and does not call
for conditions on all U.S. aid to Turkey, as set forth
in H.R. 4399 and S. 2019.

     However, the above-mentioned actions by Congress
were important first steps towards ending the U.S.
double standard for Turkey.

     The new congressional policy and the defeat of
Stephen Solarz  (D-NY) and Jim Moody (D-WI) should
strengthen our position in next years legislative
effort.  There is now momentum for legislation
onconditions and sanctions that we expect to be
introduced when the new Congress convenes in January
1993.



II.  PRESIDENT BUSH AND GOVERNOR CLINTON ISSUE
STATEMENTS ON CYPRUS, MACEDONIA ISSUES

     Both major party candidates for President issued
statements on matters of concern to the Greek American
community in recent days. Governor Bill Clinton stated
that the Cyprus issue would be a top priority in his
administration and said that the U.S. and the
international community would not tolerate the
permanent division of Cyprus, called for the removal of
the illegal Turkish occupation troops and supported the
efforts of the UN Secretary General Boutros
Boutros-Ghali.

     Regarding Macedonia, Clinton endorsed the action
of the European Community in not recognizing the Skopje
regime if it continues to use the name Macedonia. (See
July 31, 1992 WR #184).

     President Bush declared that the United States
supports the UN Secretary General Boutros
Boutros-Ghali's "set of ideas" for a Cyprus solution.
Bush said the U.S. will continue to operate as a
catalyst in the Secretary Generals negotiation effort
and press for a solution "which we consider feasible,
desirable, and very delayed."

     Regarding Macedonia, Bush endorsed the action of
the European Community of June 27, 1992, in not
recognizing the Skopje regime if it continues to use
the name Macedonia. (See July 31. 1992 WR  #184).



MORE IS NEEDED FROM BUSH AND CLINTON ON MACEDONIA AND
         CYPRUS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE U.S.

     Neither of the major party presidential candidates
have thus far called for a halt in military and
economic aid and conditions on aid or economic
sanctions against Turkey. What we need from each of
them is a commitment:

Macedonia

     1. that no recognition be granted with the word
        "Macedonia" regardless of what other nations
        do.

     2. to urge the European Community to more
        forcefully tell the Skopje regime to change its
        name. to announce that the U.S. will not
        support the Skopje regime's United Nations
        application as long as it uses the name
        "Macedonia"


Cyprus

     1. to halt all military and economic aid to Turkey
        until the conditions in H.R. 4399 and the
        following two additional conditions are met:

--that Turkey halts its massive violations of the human
        rights of its Kurdish citizens; and

--that the property of United States citizens,
        illegally taken by Turkish forces and the
        illegal Denktash Turkish Cypriot regime, has
        been returned and the gains from the use of
        said property have been turned over to the
        rightful owners.

     2. that if there is no mutually agreed settlement
        by January 1, 1993, that the U.S. will:

     a. initiate economic sanctions against Turkey and
        the illegal Denktash regime; and

     b. request the UN Security Council to initiate
        economic sanctions against Turkey and the
        illegal Denktash regime.


Candidate Ross Perot has made no statement on Macedonia
or Cyprus.



III. THE NEXT THREE WEEKS ARE IMPORTANT. IT IS URGENT
     THAT YOU CONTACT THE CANDIDATES IN YOUR STATE AND
     SEEK COMMITMENTS  FOR THE  NEXT CONGRESS.

     This is the time to prepare for next year. The
three weeks that remain before the Congressional and
Presidential elections it an excellent time to call and
write the candidates and seek from them commitments to
support the positions on Cyprus and Macedonia set forth
in Item II above.


IV. CO-SPONSORS OF H.R. 4399 NOW TOTAL 65.

     The lobbying efforts this year, resulting in the
65 cosponsors, placed special emphasis on the
Appropriations Committee and was a definite factor in
the victory in changing military grant aid to loans for
Turkey.

CO-SPONSORS OF H R. 4399

Bill Green (R-NY
Bob Mrazek (D-NY)
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Michael Bilirakis (R-FL
Thomas Andrews (D-ME)
Douglas Applegate (D-OH)
Chester Atkins (D-MA)
Les AuCoin (D-OR)
Helen Bentley (R-MD
David Bonior (D-MI)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA
Albert Bustamante (D-TX)
Benjamin Cardin (D-D)
Barbara Rose Collins (D-Ml)
William Coyne (D-PA)
Ronald Dellums (D-CA)
Julian Dixon (D-CA)
Tom Downy (D-CA)
Joseph Early (D-NY)
Edward Feighan (D-OH)
Hamilton Fish (R-NY)
William Ford (D-MI)
Dean Gallo (R-NJ
George Gekas (R-PA)
Benjamin Gilman (R-NY)
Frank Guarini (D-NJ)
Tony Hall (D-OH)
Paul Henry (R-MI
Joan Kelly Horn (D-MO)
William Hughes (D-NJ)
Jim Jontz (D-IN)
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Joseph Kennedy (D-MA)
Mike Kopetski (D-OR)
Martin Lancaster (D-NC)
Tom Lantos (D-CA)
Richard Lehman (D-CA)
Tom Lewis (R-FL)
George Miller (D-CA)
Norman Minetta (D-CA)
James Moran (D-VA)
Michael McNulty (D-NY)
Stephen Neal (D-NC)
Wayne Ouens tD-UT)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Owen Pickett (D-VA)
John Porter (R-IL)
Arthur Ravenel (R-SC)
Don Ritter (D-CA)
Edward Roybal (R-CA)
Bernie Sanders (l-VT)
Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Pete Stark (D-CA)
Edolphus Towns (D-WA)
James Traficant (D-OH)
Jolene Unsoeld (R-OR)
Ben Erdreich (D-AL)
Vic Fazio (D-AL)
Thomas Manton (D-NY)
Robert Matsui (D-CA)
Nicholas Mavroules (D-MA)
Howard Wolpe (D-MI)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Bi lo Zelif (R-NH)

     All bills die with the end of the end annual
session of the 102nd Congress. We expect that bills
similar to H.R. 4399 and S. 2019 will be introduced in
the new Congress and we will build on the solid
foundation of support achieved thus far.

V. REPRESENTATIVES MATSUI, PELOSI AND DOWNEY INTRODUCE
   THE FIRST LEGISLATION CALLING FOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
   AGAINST TURKEY.

      A major step was taken towards ending the U.S.
double standard for Turkey when Representative Robert
Matsui (D-CA, on behalf of himself and Representatives
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Tom Downey (DENY), introduced
the first legislation calling for economic sanctions
against Turkey in response to Ankara's continuing
"ethnic cleansing" in Turkey against its Kurdish and
Greek minorities and in Cyprus against the Greek
Cypriots and its continuing massive and pervasive human
rights abuses in Turkey.

     Specifically, the bill revokes Most Favored Nation
(MFN) trade status that is now accorded to goods
imported from Turkey by the U.S. MFN status allows the
goods of a nation to enter the U.S. with the duty rate
applicable to the "most favored nation."

     MFN status would be restored to Turkey only when
certain conditions are met including:

 1) the release or an accounting for the 5 American
abducted by Turkish forces in 1974 and the 1,614
missing Greek Cypriots;

2) the restoration to their original condition for
Christian worship of the churches in occupied Cyprus
that were illegally converted to mosques;

3) the withdrawal of all illegal Turkish forces from Cyprus;

4) the return of Famagusta/Varosha to the Government of Cyprus;

5) the return of property illegally taken by Turkish
and Turkish Cypriot forces from U.S. citizens;

6)  taking steps toward establishing a democracy on Cyprus;

7) the cessation of its massive violations of Kurdish
human rights;

8) the cessation of its human rights violations in
general and its ethnic cleansing actions in particular.



VI. GREECE'S FOREIGN MINISTER. MICHAEL PAPACONSTANTINOU
IN A WASHINGTON, D.C.  PRESS CONFERENCE  RESPONDS  TO
ALLEGATIONS  AGAINST  GREECE.

     Recently, Greece has been accused of imposing a
total embargo on trade with Skopje. At a press
conference in Washington, DC on October 1, 1992,
visiting Greek Foreign Minister Michael
Papaconstantinou denied these allegations. He declared
that Greece has never prevented food and humanitarian
assistance from going to Skopje.

     The Foreign Minister also said that the ban on
shipments of oil imports has been lifted. He reminded
the reporters that Greece stopped the shipments in
order to put an end to charges that Greece was
violating the UN embargo on the new Yugoslavia by
sending oil to Serbia through Skopje' s territory. To
avoid the diversion to Serbia of oil slated for other
countries, Mr. Papaconstantinou said that Greece will
initiate a policy requiring that Skopje provide Greece
with certification that the shipments have reached the
declared destination.
     Skopje's policy of intransigence requires
continued efforts to counter disinformation and
propaganda. Continue to call and send letters to those
listed below.


Letters and telephone calls to the President. Congress
and the Secretary of State:

President George Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

White House "Comment Line"
(202) 456-1111

The Honorable
[Name of your representative]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: (202) 224-3121

Lawrence S. Eagleburger
Acting Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Telephone: (202) 647-6575

The Honorable
[Name of your Senator]
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Telephone: (202) 224-3121



VII. TURKEY GUILTY OF "ETHNIC CLEANSING" IN TURKEY
AGAINST ITS KURDISH AND GREEK MINORITIES AND ON CYPRUS
AGAINST THE GREEK CYPRIOTS.

     The American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs
Committee, in letters to the U.S. Congress (September
15 and 21, 1992) regarding Turkey and Ethnic
Cleansing--A Double Standard, highlighted recent
articles and reports on Turkey's human rights
violations. In the letters, Eugene T. Ross ides called
for sanctions against Turkey until they comply with
U.S. and international law regarding human rights.
Rossides stated that:

     "Since money is fungible, all of our military and
economic aid to Turkey is, and has been, used to
support Turkey's program of ethnic cleansing
against its large Kurdish minority, the remnants of its
Greek minority and against the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus.