Calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom.

Bill: 111-hres-1631
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2010-09-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Archaeology and anthropology
Art, artists, authorship
Congressional tributes
Crimes against property
Cyprus
Europe
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Human rights
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Religion
Smuggling and trafficking
Turkey
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: 
Expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the efforts of those countries that have restored religious property wrongly confiscated during the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.
 
Welcomes the initiatives and commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to work to restore and maintain religious heritage sites.
 
Urges the government of Turkey to: (1) implement immediately the United Nations Security Council Resolutions relevant to Cyprus as well as the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights; (2) work to retrieve and restore all lost artifacts and immediately halt destruction on religious sites, illegal archaeological excavations, and traffic in icons and antiquities; and (3) allow for the proper preservation and reconstruction of destroyed or altered religious sites and immediately cease all restrictions on freedom of religion for the enclaved Cypriots.
 
Calls on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the President, the Secretary of State, and the State Department Office of International Religious Freedom to take specified steps to address the concerns and actions called for in this resolution.
 
Urges the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to: (1) ensure that member states do not receive stolen Cypriot art and antiquities; and (2) press the government of Turkey to abide by its international commitments in this matter.

action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the efforts of those countries that have restored religious property wrongly confiscated during the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.
 
Welcomes the initiatives and commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to work to restore and maintain religious heritage sites.
 
Urges the government of Turkey to: (1) implement immediately the United Nations Security Council Resolutions relevant to Cyprus as well as the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights; (2) work to retrieve and restore all lost artifacts and immediately halt destruction on religious sites, illegal archaeological excavations, and traffic in icons and antiquities; and (3) allow for the proper preservation and reconstruction of destroyed or altered religious sites and immediately cease all restrictions on freedom of religion for the enclaved Cypriots.
 
Calls on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the President, the Secretary of State, and the State Department Office of International Religious Freedom to take specified steps to address the concerns and actions called for in this resolution.
 
Urges the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to: (1) ensure that member states do not receive stolen Cypriot art and antiquities; and (2) press the government of Turkey to abide by its international commitments in this matter.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7048-7049)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7048-7049)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1631.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7048-7052)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Mr. Tanner moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-09-16
text: Introduced in House