IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 411 

Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply with all European Union standards 

and criteria prior to its accession to the European Union. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 28, 2005 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. STRICKLAND, 

Mr. CROWLEY, and Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply with all European 

Union standards and criteria prior to its accession to 

the European Union. 

Whereas the Republic of Turkey is scheduled to begin accession negotiations with the European Union on October 3, 

2005; 

Whereas in 1993 the European Union defined the membership criteria for accession to the European Union at the 

Copenhagen European Council, obligating candidate 

countries to have achieved certain levels of reform, among 

which is stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, 

the rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities; 
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•HRES 411 IH 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 353 

(1974) ‘‘requests the withdrawal without delay from the 

Republic of Cyprus of foreign military personnel present 

otherwise than under the authority of international 

agreements’’; 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 353 

‘‘demands an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus that is in contravention 

of’’ the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Cyprus; 

Whereas Turkish troops have been in the occupied areas of 

Cyprus ever since the illegal invasion of 1974 and the 

International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) 2004– 

2005 Military Balance Report placed the number of occupying Turkish troops at 36,000, leading United Nations 

Secretary General Boutros-Gali to refer to Cyprus as 

‘‘one of the most highly militarized areas of the world’’ 

(section III, A, 28 of the June 7, 1994, Report of the 

Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in 

Cyprus); 

Whereas the Government of Turkey refuses to recognize the 

Ecumenical Patriarch’s international status, has limited 

candidates for selection as the Ecumenical Patriarch, and 

confiscated property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 

Whereas 1,479 Cypriot and Greek nationals are still missing 

as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974; 

Whereas in February 2001 the European Parliament formally approved the Accession Partnership regulations 

with Turkey, which set out the priorities Turkey must 

address in order to adopt and implement European 

Union standards and legislation; 
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•HRES 411 IH 

Whereas in October 2004 the European Commission recommended opening accession talks with Turkey but suggested that a majority of European Union ministers 

could suspend talks if there is a ‘‘serious and persistent 

breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for 

human rights, and fundamental freedoms’’ and areas of 

remaining concern include deficiencies in human rights 

practices, the protection of minorities, and limitations on 

freedom of expression, the press, and non-Muslim religions, among others; 

Whereas in December 2004 the European Council agreed to 

open accession negotiations with Turkey in October 2005, 

conditional upon the implementation of several pieces of 

reform legislation, and the Council specifically welcomed 

Turkey’s decision to sign the Protocol regarding the extension of its customs union to all European Union members; 

Whereas on May 1, 2004, ten new countries entered the European Union, including Cyprus, thus acquiring authority 

to veto any country seeking to join the European Union; 

and 

Whereas to date, Turkey has not extended its customs union 

to the ten new European Union member states: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its view that the Republic of Tur3 key should continue to demonstrate that it is meet4 ing the criteria set forth in the Copenhagen Euro5 pean Council for accession to the European Union 

6 and should do so prior to the start of accession ne-
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•HRES 411 IH 

1 gotiations currently scheduled to begin on October 3, 

2 2005; 

3 (2) calls on Turkey to continue to adhere to all 

4 criteria for accession to the European Union, and to 

5 extend its customs union to all European Union 

6 members, and fully recognize all European Union 

7 members, including the Cyprus; 

8 (3) calls on Turkey to respect European Union 

9 laws and demonstrate that it is willing to abide by 

10 such laws; 

11 (4) urges the removal of Turkish occupation 

12 forces from the northern one-third of Cyprus in ac13 cordance with United Nations Security Council Res14 olution 353 (1974); 

15 (5) urges Turkey, in accordance with the 

16 United Nations Security Council Resolution 353, to 

17 abandon all insistence of the right to intervene in or 

18 invade Cyprus; 

19 (6) expresses its view that Turkey should recog20 nize the fundamental rights of all Cypriots with re21 spect to— 

22 (A) the right to own property; 

23 (B) the right of free movement; 

24 (C) the right of free settlement; and 

25 (D) the right of return for refugees; 
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•HRES 411 IH 

1 (7) calls upon Turkey to work and cooperate 

2 with the United Nations and Cyprus toward the dis3 covery of the fate of every missing person; 

4 (8) calls upon Turkey to pledge to uphold and 

5 safeguard human rights without compromise; and 

6 (9) encourages Turkey to continue the advance7 ment of processes and programs to modernize and 

8 democratize its own society. 

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