IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 603 

Supporting the removal of Turkish occupation troops from the Republic 

of Cyprus. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 14, 2005 

Mr. ANDREWS (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. SHERMAN, Mrs. MALONEY, 

Ms. LEE, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. BERKLEY, Ms. WATSON, Ms. LINDA T. 

SA ́NCHEZ of California, and Mr. KUCINICH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the removal of Turkish occupation troops from 

the Republic of Cyprus. 

Whereas the United States has shown consistent interest in 

resolving the Cyprus issue and has encouraged every effort in that direction; 

Whereas both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders 

continue to affirm their commitment to reaching a settlement that reunifies the island and its people; 

Whereas the Greek Cypriots have implemented a package of 

trade, aid, and good faith measures designed to assist 

their Turkish Cypriot compatriots by ensuring that the 

Turkish Cypriots can enjoy the same rights and privileges enjoyed by all other citizens of Cyprus, such as free 
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•HRES 603 IH 

movement of goods, improved healthcare, education, 

trade, and employment opportunities; 

Whereas Turkish occupying troops have been in Cyprus ever 

since the illegal occupation of 1974, and the number of 

these troops has increased over the last three decades so 

that there are now more than 40,000 Turkish troops in 

the occupied part of Cyprus, making this country one of 

the most militarized countries in the world; 

Whereas for the first time in thirty years trade has begun in 

both directions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriots participated in the Cyprus 

International Fair with the support of the authorities of 

the Republic of Cyprus; 

Whereas the April 2003 opening of crossing points through 

the cease-fire line, which forcibly divides the island, demonstrated that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can 

live in harmony without animosity and within the rule of 

law of the European Union (EU), and that eight million 

crossings have occurred since then almost incident free; 

Whereas Cyprus’ accession to the EU in April 2004 has 

opened new avenues for the resolution of the division of 

the island and provided a greater sense of security for 

both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; 

Whereas a resolution of the Cyprus issue will assist Turkey 

to proceed with its accession to the EU; and 

Whereas goodwill and mutual confidence must precede a 

peaceful and lasting resolution of the Cyprus problem: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 603 IH 

1 (1) wishing to accelerate the momentum for the 

2 reunification of the Republic of Cyprus, urges as a 

3 further step, the immediate withdrawal of the Turk4 ish troops of occupation; 

5 (2) calls upon the Government of the United 

6 States to advocate for the immediate withdrawal of 

7 Turkish troops from the occupied territories of the 

8 Republic of Cyprus; 

9 (3) expresses its strong support of the contents 

10 of the European Commission’s 2005 Progress Re11 port on Turkey, which states that Turkey— 

12 (A) continues to wrongfully impose its veto 

13 on the membership of Cyprus in certain inter14 national organizations; 

15 (B) insists in excluding Cyprus and Malta 

16 from the strategic cooperation between the Eu17 ropean Union (EU) and the North Atlantic 

18 Treaty Organization (NATO) in crisis manage19 ment thus hampering such cooperation; and 

20 (C) restricts Cyprus-flagged vessels from 

21 entering Turkish ports and Cypriot civilian air22 craft from using Turkish national airspace; and 
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•HRES 603 IH 

1 (4) calls upon Turkey to normalize relations 

2 with the Republic of Cyprus and stop hampering 

3 strategic cooperation between the EU and NATO. 

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