Title: End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act
This bill repeals specified statutory and regulatory prohibitions on the export and transfer of arms to Cyprus.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2963 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Republic of Cyprus is a vital strategic partner to 
        the United States.
            (2) The Republic of Cyprus is a critical member of the 
        Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the 
        Levant.
            (3) The United States cooperates closely with the Republic 
        of Cyprus through information sharing agreements.
            (4) High-level United States officials have assisted the 
        Republic of Cyprus with crafting that nation's national 
        security strategy.
            (5) The United States provides training to Cypriot 
        officials in areas such as cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and 
        explosive ordnance disposal and stockpile management.
            (6) The Republic of Cyprus is a valued member of the 
        Proliferation Security Initiative to combat the trafficking of 
        weapons of mass destruction.
            (7) The Republic of Cyprus continues to work closely with 
        the United Nations and regional partners in Europe--
                    (A) to combat terrorism through law enforcement;
                    (B) to counter violent extremism programs; and
                    (C) to combat terrorism through financial 
                mechanisms.
            (8) The United States and the Republic of Cyprus maintain 
        strong bilateral economic relations, particularly in sectors 
        such as energy, financial services, and logistics.
            (9) The energy exploration in the Republic of Cyprus's 
        Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters--
                    (A) includes the participation of United States 
                companies;
                    (B) furthers United States interests by providing a 
                potential alternative to Russian gas for United States 
                allies and partners; and
                    (C) should not be impeded by other sovereign 
                states.
            (10) Energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean region 
        must be safeguarded against threats posed by terrorist and 
        extremist groups, including Hezbollah and others.
            (11) Despite robust economic and security relations with 
        the United States, the Republic of Cyprus has been subject to a 
        United States embargo prohibiting the export of defense 
        articles and services since 1987.
            (12) The 1987 arms embargo was designed to restrict United 
        States arms sales and transfer to the Republic of Cyprus and 
        the occupied part of Cyprus to avoid hindering reunification 
        efforts.
            (13) At least 30,000 Turkish troops are stationed in the 
        occupied part of Cyprus with weapons procured from the United 
        States through mainland Turkey.
            (14) While the United States has, as a matter of policy, 
        avoided the provision of defense articles and services to the 
        Republic of Cyprus, the Government of Cyprus has sought to 
        obtain these defense articles from other countries, including 
        countries that pose challenges to United States interests 
        around the world.
            (15) The security of partners in the Eastern Mediterranean 
        region is critical to the security of the United States and 
        Europe.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the direct sale or transfer of arms by the United 
        States to the Republic of Cyprus would advance United States' 
        security interests in Europe by helping to reduce the 
        dependence of Cyprus on other countries for defense-related 
        materiel, including countries that pose challenges to United 
        States interests around the world; and
            (2) it is in the interest of the United States--
                    (A) to continue to support United Nations-
                facilitated efforts toward a comprehensive solution to 
                the division of Cyprus;
                    (B) to affirm the importance of demilitarization on 
                the island of Cyprus; and
                    (C) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's 
                Partnership for Peace program.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF ARTICLES ON THE UNITED 
              STATES MUNITIONS LIST TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.

    (a) In General.--Section 620C of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2373) is amended by striking subsection (e).
    (b) Exclusion of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus From 
Certain Related Regulations.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of State shall exclude any application made 
with or under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus 
from the restrictions set forth in--
            (1) section 126.1(r) of title 22, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (relating to prohibited exports, imports, and sales 
        to or from Cyprus); and
            (2) Department of State Public Notice 1738 (57 Fed. Reg. 
        60265; December 18, 1992; relating to policy governing 
        munitions export licenses to Cyprus).
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