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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 164 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 164

  Expressing the sense of Congress that security, reconciliation, and 
prosperity for all Cypriots can be best achieved within the context of 
membership in the European Union which will provide significant rights 
       and obligations for all Cypriots, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2001

 Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. Gilman, Ms. 
  Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Engel, Mr. Pallone, Ms. 
  Berkley, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Ms. Lee, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. 
 Capps, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. 
Andrews, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Blagojevich, Mr. Capuano, Mrs. 
Napolitano, Mr. Payne, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Coyne, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. King, 
 Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Horn, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Kennedy of 
Rhode Island, Mr. Sherman, Ms. McKinney, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Tierney, Mr. 
 Stark, Mr. Lewis of California, Mr. Baird, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Gekas, 
and Mr. Ackerman) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
        was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that security, reconciliation, and 
prosperity for all Cypriots can be best achieved within the context of 
membership in the European Union which will provide significant rights 
       and obligations for all Cypriots, and for other purposes.

Whereas the status quo on Cyprus remains unacceptable;
Whereas a just and lasting resolution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of 
        United Nations Security Council resolutions, must safeguard the security 
        and fundamental rights of all citizens of Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots and 
        Turkish-Cypriots alike;
Whereas Cyprus is among the leading candidate countries for accession to the 
        European Union, in recognition of its commitment to free markets, human 
        rights, democracy, and the rule of law;
Whereas the European Union guarantees to all its citizens the indivisible 
        universal values of human dignity (supporting fair and equal treatment 
        of all), freedom (right to security, marriage, family, among others), 
        equality (celebrating cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity), 
        solidarity (protecting workers' rights and providing social security), 
        citizens' rights (voting), and justice (holding a fair trial);
Whereas membership in the European Union will guarantee each citizen of Cyprus 
        important legal, civil, and human rights, as well as the means and legal 
        recourse necessary to secure the full application of these fundamental 
        individual rights, and to promote the respect of cultural diversity and 
        traditions;
Whereas membership in the European Union will bring significant benefits to both 
        the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, including new 
        economic opportunities, access to new markets, a freer exchange of goods 
        and services, balanced and sustainable development as well as the free 
        movement of persons, goods, and services and capital;
Whereas the European Council in its Summit Conclusions of December 1999, in 
        Helsinki, stated that ``a political settlement [of the Cyprus problem] 
        will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union . . . [i]f 
        no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession 
        negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be made without 
        the above being a precondition'';
Whereas both the United States and the European Union in their summit statement 
        on the New Transatlantic Agenda of June 14, 2001, pledge to continue to 
        work together to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary 
        General to achieve a comprehensive settlement with respect to Cyprus 
        consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and 
        to continue to work toward the resumption of talks;
Whereas resolution of the Cyprus problem is in the strategic interests of the 
        United States, given the important location of Cyprus at the crossroads 
        of Europe, Africa, and Asia; and
Whereas resolution of the Cyprus problem is also consistent with American 
        values, as enshrined in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the 
        United States, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and the 
        pursuit of happiness: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the unacceptable status quo on Cyprus must be ended and 
        the island and its people be reunited, in a bizonal, bicommunal 
        federal Cyprus, on the basis of United Nations Security Council 
        resolutions;
            (2) the accession of Cyprus to the European Union would act 
        as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem without 
        the latter being a precondition for accession;
            (3) membership of Cyprus to the European Union should be 
        strongly supported;
            (4) all Cypriots be urged to support and encourage efforts 
        to bring Cyprus into the European Union; and
            (5) the various agencies of the United States Government 
        should pursue vigorously and as an issue of high and urgent 
        priority new initiatives that will help promote and achieve 
        reunification, reconciliation, stability, and prosperity on 
        Cyprus.
                                 <all>
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