I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5508 

To repeal the prohibition on transfer of articles on the United States 

Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 13, 2018 

Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. CRIST, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. 

KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. ROSKAM, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Ms. TITUS, and Ms. MENG) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To repeal the prohibition on transfer of articles on the 

United States Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘End the Cyprus Arms 

5 Embargo Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The Republic of Cyprus is a vital strategic 

9 partner to the United States. 


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1 (2) The Republic of Cyprus is a critical member 

2 of the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State 

3 in Iraq and the Levant. 

4 (3) The United States cooperates closely with 

5 the Republic of Cyprus through information sharing 

6 agreements. 

7 (4) High-level United States officials have as8 sisted the Republic of Cyprus with crafting that na9 tion’s national security strategy. 

10 (5) The United States provides training to Cyp11 riot officials in areas such as cybersecurity, counter12 terrorism, and explosive ordinance disposal and 

13 stockpile management. 

14 (6) The Republic of Cyprus is a valued member 

15 of the Proliferation Security Initiative to combat the 

16 trafficking of weapons of mass destruction. 

17 (7) The Republic of Cyprus continues to work 

18 closely with the United Nations and regional part19 ners in Europe to combat terrorism through law en20 forcement, counter violent extremism programs, and 

21 through financial mechanisms. 

22 (8) The United States and the Republic of Cy23 prus maintain strong bilateral economic relations, 

24 particularly in sectors such as energy, financial serv25 ices, and logistics. 


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1 (9) The energy exploration in the Republic of 

2 Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial 

3 waters includes the participation of United States 

4 companies and furthers United States interests by 

5 providing a potential alternative to Russian gas for 

6 United States allies and partners. 

7 (10) Energy exploration in the Eastern Medi8 terranean must be safeguarded against threats posed 

9 by terrorist and extremist groups such as Hezbollah 

10 and others. 

11 (11) Despite robust economic and security rela12 tions with the United States, the Republic of Cyprus 

13 has been subject to a United States embargo prohib14 iting the export of defense articles and services since 

15 1987. 

16 (12) The 1987 arms embargo was designed to 

17 restrict United States arms sales and transfer to 

18 both the Republic of Cyprus and the occupied part 

19 of Cyprus to avoid hindering reunification efforts. 

20 (13) At least 30,000 Turkish troops are sta21 tioned in the occupied part of Cyprus with weapons 

22 procured from the United States through mainland 

23 Turkey. 

24 (14) The inability of the United States to pro25 vide defense articles and services to the Republic of 


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1 Cyprus has forced Cyprus to obtain these items from 

2 countries which pose challenges to United States in3 terests around the world. 

4 (15) The security of partners in the Eastern 

5 Mediterranean region is critical to the security of 

6 the United States and Europe. 

7 SEC. 3. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF ARTI8 CLES ON THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS 

9 LIST TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 620C of the Foreign As11 sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373) is amended by 

12 striking subsection (e). 

13 (b) OTHER PROVISIONS.—The following provisions 

14 shall have no force or effect: 

15 (1) Paragraph (r) of section 126.1 of title 22, 

16 Code of Federal Regulations (relating to prohibited 

17 exports, imports, and sales to or from Cyprus). 

18 (2) Public Notice 1738 of December 18, 1992 

19 (57 Fed. Reg. 60265; relating to policy governing 

20 munitions export licenses to Cyprus). 

Æ 


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