II 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2963 

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

Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 24, 2018 

Mr. MENENDEZ introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To repeal the prohibition on the 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 ordnance 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— 

20 (A) to combat terrorism through law en21 forcement; 

22 (B) to counter violent extremism pro23 grams; and 

24 (C) to combat terrorism through financial 

25 mechanisms. 


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1 (8) The United States and the Republic of Cy2 prus maintain strong bilateral economic relations, 

3 particularly in sectors such as energy, financial serv4 ices, and logistics. 

5 (9) The energy exploration in the Republic of 

6 Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial 

7 waters— 

8 (A) includes the participation of United 

9 States companies; 

10 (B) furthers United States interests by 

11 providing a potential alternative to Russian gas 

12 for United States allies and partners; and 

13 (C) should not be impeded by other sov14 ereign states. 

15 (10) Energy exploration in the Eastern Medi16 terranean region must be safeguarded against 

17 threats posed by terrorist and extremist groups, in18 cluding Hezbollah and others. 

19 (11) Despite robust economic and security rela20 tions with the United States, the Republic of Cyprus 

21 has been subject to a United States embargo prohib22 iting the export of defense articles and services since 

23 1987. 

24 (12) The 1987 arms embargo was designed to 

25 restrict United States arms sales and transfer to the 


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1 Republic of Cyprus and the occupied part of Cyprus 

2 to avoid hindering reunification efforts. 

3 (13) At least 30,000 Turkish troops are sta4 tioned in the occupied part of Cyprus with weapons 

5 procured from the United States through mainland 

6 Turkey. 

7 (14) While the United States has, as a matter 

8 of policy, avoided the provision of defense articles 

9 and services to the Republic of Cyprus, the Govern10 ment of Cyprus has sought to obtain these defense 

11 articles from other countries, including countries 

12 that pose challenges to United States interests 

13 around the world. 

14 (15) The security of partners in the Eastern 

15 Mediterranean region is critical to the security of 

16 the United States and Europe. 

17 SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE SENATE. 

18 It is the sense of the Senate that— 

19 (1) the direct sale or transfer of arms by the 

20 United States to the Republic of Cyprus would ad21 vance United States’ security interests in Europe by 

22 helping to reduce the dependence of Cyprus on other 

23 countries for defense-related materiel, including 

24 countries that pose challenges to United States in25 terests around the world; and 


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1 (2) it is in the interest of the United States— 

2 (A) to continue to support United Nations3 facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solu4 tion to the division of Cyprus; 

5 (B) to affirm the importance of demili6 tarization on the island of Cyprus; and 

7 (C) for the Republic of Cyprus to join 

8 NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. 

9 SEC. 4. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF ARTI10 CLES ON THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS 

11 LIST TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 620C of the Foreign As13 sistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373) is amended by 

14 striking subsection (e). 

15 (b) EXCLUSION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RE16 PUBLIC OF CYPRUS FROM CERTAIN RELATED REGULA17 TIONS.—Beginning on the date of the enactment of this 

18 Act, the Secretary of State shall exclude any application 

19 made with or under the authority of the Government of 

20 the Republic of Cyprus from the restrictions set forth in— 

21 (1) section 126.1(r) of title 22, Code of Federal 

22 Regulations (relating to prohibited exports, imports, 

23 and sales to or from Cyprus); and 

24 (2) Department of State Public Notice 1738 

25 (57 Fed. Reg. 60265; December 18, 1992; relating 


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1 to policy governing munitions export licenses to Cy2 prus). 

Æ 


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