H. Res. 165

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

April 10, 2003.

Whereas the United States believed there existed a historic

opportunity to bring a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem, which would have benefited

all Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as the wider region;

Whereas a resolution of the Cyprus problem remains consistent with American values of promoting stability, freedom, and democracy in the world;

Whereas a 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;

Whereas the United States strongly supports the efforts of

the United Nations Secretary General, and his Special

Advisor through his good offices mission, to achieve a

comprehensive settlement with respect to Cyprus in full

consideration with relevant United Nations Security

Council resolutions and international treaties;

Whereas a just and lasting resolution of the Cyprus problem,

in full consideration of United Nations Security Council

resolutions and international treaties, will safeguard the
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security and fundamental rights of all Greek and Turkish

Cypriots;

Whereas the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan,

on November 11, 2002, submitted a proposal for the

comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, referred

to as the ‘‘Basis for an Agreement on a Comprehensive

Settlement of the Cyprus problem’’, which he revised on

December 10, 2002, and again on February 26, 2003;

Whereas negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot

leaders, which had been ongoing, were encouraged to be

intensified in order that full agreement could be reached

by February 28, 2003, in conformity with the timetable

proposed by the United Nations Secretary General in his

proposals;

Whereas United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan again

on February 26, 2003, gave the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and the guarantor powers, the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey, a second revision of his plan in

order to accommodate input from both sides;

Whereas the revised plan was the result of exhaustive efforts

by the United Nations and would have lead to a peaceful,

just and lasting settlement of the longstanding division of

Cyprus;

Whereas the Secretary General on February 28, 2003, at the

conclusion of a visit to Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, invited the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to meet with

him at The Hague on March 10, 2003, the purpose of

the meeting being to sign a commitment to submit the

plan to approval in separate, simultaneous referenda on

March 30, 2003, in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, and the guarantor powers
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were also invited to attend the meeting and to sign the

commitment;

Whereas both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders did attend the meeting at The Hague with the Secretary General but the Secretary General’s plan failed when Turkish

Cypriot Leader, Denktash, rejected both the comprehensive settlement and the referendum proposal;

Whereas the United States Government expressed its deep

disappointment that the Secretary General’s efforts to

bring his plan for a comprehensive settlement to

referenda by Greek and Turkish Cypriots was rejected;

and

Whereas despite this unfortunate setback, the United States

remains committed to seeking a just and durable settlement to the Cyprus problem: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the

United Nations Secretary General to seek a peaceful,

just, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem for

the benefit of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the

region;

(2) expresses its strong disappointment that the

Secretary General’s efforts to bring his plan for a comprehensive settlement to a referenda by the Greek and

Turkish Cypriots has been rejected;

(3) expresses its very strong regret that Turkish

Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, rejected the comprehensive settlement offered by the Secretary General and, by
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refusing to offer the settlement proposal to referenda,

denied the Turkish Cypriot community the opportunity

to determine their own future;

(4) remains committed, despite the recent setback,

to giving any assistance necessary for finding a just and

durable settlement for the Cyprus problem and urges the

maximum effort by the United States Government and

others to redouble their efforts to seek a just and lasting

settlement to the Cyprus problem;

(5) encourages both Greek and Turkish Cypriot

leaders to renew their efforts to find a settlement to the

Cyprus problem on the basis of the Secretary General’s

framework for a comprehensive settlement;

(6) urges the Governments of Turkey and Greece to

do everything possible to support the search for a settlement, including actions by the Government of Turkey

helping to persuade the Turkish Cypriot leader to reach

an agreement which would reunite the island and which

would serve the interests of both Greek and Turkish

Cypriots; and

(7) encourages both sides, upon completion of a

comprehensive settlement, to consider putting such an

agreement to referenda, if necessary, in order that the
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will of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots can be democratically expressed.

Attest:

Clerk.