IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 187 

Expressing the United States commitment to the reunification of the Republic 

of Cyprus and the establishment of a unified government on Cyprus 

that guarantees the human rights of all Cypriots and condemns any 

attempt to use the current economic crisis as a means of imposing 

a settlement on the people of Cyprus, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 26, 2013 

Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. 

GRIMM, Mr. SIRES, Ms. TITUS, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mr. 

PALLONE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the United States commitment to the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and the establishment 

of a unified government on Cyprus that guarantees the 

human rights of all Cypriots and condemns any attempt 

to use the current economic crisis as a means of imposing a settlement on the people of Cyprus, and for other 

purposes. 

Whereas the Republic of Cyprus is an independent and sovereign nation-state within the community of nations; 

Whereas the Republic of Cyprus, the only internationally recognized and legal entity on the island of Cyprus is a 

member state of the United Nations, the European 


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•HRES 187 IH 

Union and other international organizations which are 

vital to the community of nations; 

Whereas the Republic of Cyprus has the lawful authority and 

power to perform and exercise the functions of government on and within the island of Cyprus; 

Whereas Republic of Turkey’s military unlawfully invaded 

Cyprus in July 1974; 

Whereas the Turkish military illegally occupies northern Cyprus and the Turkish Government in Ankara exercises 

significant influence there, thereby forcibly excluding the 

Government of the Republic of Cyprus from performing 

and exercising its lawful governing functions; 

Whereas 180,000 displaced persons in Cyprus experience violations of their fundamental human rights as they continue to be excluded from their property lawfully held 

under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus as a result of 

the Turkish invasion and continued occupation; 

Whereas on May 10, 2001, the European Court of Human 

Rights found the Republic of Turkey liable for damages 

incurred by the Republic of Cyprus directly caused by the 

Republic of Turkey; 

Whereas the Republic of Cyprus became a member state of 

the European Union in 2004 and joined the Eurozone in 

2008; 

Whereas the people of the Republic of Cyprus have been suffering from an economic downturn as the result of the effects of adverse events which have occurred and continue 

to occur in the global economy; 

Whereas significant deposits of valuable resources have been 

discovered in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the 

Republic of Cyprus; 


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•HRES 187 IH 

Whereas this discovery is potentially significant for the energy security of Europe; 

Whereas the United States Government supports the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus to explore hydrocarbon deposits in their respective EEZs; 

Whereas the Republic of Turkey has threatened and continues to threaten to prevent the Republic of Cyprus 

from developing its hydrocarbon reserves including 

through military action; 

Whereas the Republic of Turkey and some press commentators have argued that, given the current economic crisis 

in the Republic of Cyprus, the people of the Republic of 

Cyprus could be forced to abandon their terms to reunify 

the island of Cyprus; 

Whereas if Turkey continues with this approach, the island 

of Cyprus could be permanently divided along ethnic 

lines; and 

Whereas the policy concepts set forth in Section 610C of the 

Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373), provide in part for ‘‘a just settlement on Cyprus which must 

involve the establishment of an independent, unified government on Cyprus and must guarantee that the human 

rights of all of the people of Cyprus are fully protected’’ 

and that ‘‘a just settlement on Cyprus must include the 

withdrawal of all Turkish military forces from Cyprus’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls on 

2 the Secretary of State to— 

3 (1) reaffirm the United States commitment to 

4 the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and the 


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•HRES 187 IH 

1 establishment of a unified government on Cyprus 

2 that guarantees the human rights of all Cypriots 

3 and condemns any attempt to use the current eco4 nomic crisis as a means of imposing a settlement on 

5 the people of Cyprus; 

6 (2) condemn any attempt to use the current 

7 economic crisis as a means of imposing a settlement 

8 on the people of the Republic of Cyprus; 

9 (3) affirm that negotiations for a solution to 

10 the problems the Republic of Cyprus faces should 

11 only resume once the appropriate preparations take 

12 place, so as to ensure that these will be meaningful 

13 and result-oriented, allowing for substantial progress 

14 and real prospects for a solution; and 

15 (4) communicate through all available means 

16 that the United States affirms its policy that the Re17 public of Cyprus has exclusive dominion and control 

18 over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the 

19 right to exploit the resources in its EEZ. 

Æ 


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