[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 165 Engrossed in House (EH)]
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 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 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 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 will of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots can
be democratically expressed.
Attest:
Clerk.