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]
[H.R. 5508 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






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.

    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 ordinance 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 to combat 
        terrorism through law enforcement, counter violent extremism 
        programs, and 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 includes the 
        participation of United States companies and furthers United 
        States interests by providing a potential alternative to 
        Russian gas for United States allies and partners.
            (10) Energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean must 
        be safeguarded against threats posed by terrorist and extremist 
        groups such as 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 both 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) The inability of the United States to provide defense 
        articles and services to the Republic of Cyprus has forced 
        Cyprus to obtain these items from countries which 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. 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) Other Provisions.--The following provisions shall have no force 
or effect:
            (1) Paragraph (r) of section 126.1 of title 22, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (relating to prohibited exports, imports, 
        and sales to or from Cyprus).
            (2) Public Notice 1738 of December 18, 1992 (57 Fed. Reg. 
        60265; relating to policy governing munitions export licenses 
        to Cyprus).
                                 <all>