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AHI
Congratulates U.S. Senate on Its Support of Cyprus' EU Accession
WASHINGTON, DC - The American
Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds the United States Senate on its November
18 unanimous approval of a resolution (S.Con.Res. 122) that endorses the
accession of Cyprus to the European Union (EU) and calls for the
reunification of the Republic of Cyprus. The
Senate initiative resolves that "the current status quo on Cyprus
must be ended and the island and its people be reunited, in a bizonal,
bicommunal federal Cyprus, with full consideration of United Nations
Security Council resolutions and international treaties." It also
affirms that, "while a successful resolution of the Cyprus problem
would facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, in the
absence of such a resolution, the accession of Cyprus to the European
Union could act as a further catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus
problem without the latter being a precondition for accession and with all
relevant factors being considered." S.Con.Res.
122 urges all Cypriots "to support and encourage efforts to bring the
Republic of Cyprus into the European Union," and calls on the various
agencies of the U.S. Government to support UN efforts to facilitate a
settlement and to pursue a settlement as an issue of "high
priority." AHI
Chairman James Marketos applauded the Senate's initiative, stating:
"We are at a crucial juncture in the history of Cyprus on the eve of
Cyprus' accession to the EU at the upcoming Copenhagen Summit on December
12-13. The Senate resolution sends a strong message to the international
community that the U.S. strongly supports Cyprus' EU membership bid
without preconditions, and reaffirms its support of a reunified island as
a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as outlined in UN Security Council
resolutions." AHI
sends special thanks to Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who sponsored the
resolution, and to the resolution's co-sponsors who include: Senator
Joseph Biden (D-DE), Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Senator Barbara
Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ), Senator John F. Kerry
(D-MA), Senator Jean Carnahan (D-MO), Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA),
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Senator Tim Harkin
(D-LA), and Senator Thomas R. Carper (D-DE). The
text of the Senate Resolution on Cyprus (S.Con.Res. 122) follows. For
additional information, please contact Chrysoula Economopoulos at (202)
785-8430 or at chrysoula@ahiworld.org.
For general information on AHI, please view our website at http://www.ahiworld.org.
#
# # S.
Con. Res. 122 Whereas the
current status quo on Cyprus remains unacceptable and the reunification of
Cyprus remains a desirable foreign policy objective; Whereas
a just and lasting resolution of the Cyprus problem, in full consideration
of United Nations Security Council resolutions and international treaties,
must safeguard the security and fundamental rights of the population of
Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots alike; Whereas
Cyprus is among the leading candidate countries for accession to the
European Union, in recognition of its commitment to free markets, human
rights, democracy, and the rule of law; Whereas
the European Union guarantees to all its citizens the indivisible
universal values of human dignity (supporting fair and equal treatment of
all), freedom (right to security, marriage, family, among others),
equality (celebrating cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity),
solidarity (protecting workers' rights and providing social security),
citizens' rights (voting), and justice (holding a fair trial); Whereas
membership in the European Union will guarantee each citizen of the
Republic of Cyprus important legal, civil, and human rights, as well as
the means and legal recourse necessary to secure the full application of
these fundamental individual rights, and to promote the respect of
cultural diversity and traditions; Whereas
membership in the European Union will bring significant benefits to both
Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, including new economic opportunities,
access to new markets, a freer exchange of goods and services, balanced
and sustainable development as well as the free movement of persons,
goods, and services and capital; Whereas
the European Council in its Summit Conclusions of December 1999, in
Helsinki, stated that ``a political settlement [of the Cyprus problem]
will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union .. . . [i]f
no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession
negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be made without the
above being a precondition . . . [i]n this the Council will take account
of all relevant factors''; Whereas
both the United States and the European Union in their summit statement on
the New Transatlantic Agenda of June 14, 2001, pledge to continue to work
together to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to
achieve a comprehensive settlement with respect to Cyprus in full
consideration of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and
international treaties; Whereas
the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leadership began direct talks on January 16,
2002, with the United Nations Special Advisor in attendance and the
European Council at the Seville Conference in June 2002 called on the
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to intensify and expedite their talks in
order to seize the unique opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement;
and Whereas
resolution of the Cyprus problem is also consistent with American values,
as enshrined in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United
States, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness: Now, therefore, be it Resolved
by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the
sense of Congress that— (1)
the current status quo on Cyprus must be ended and the island and
its people be reunited, in a bizonal, bicommunal federal Cyprus, with full
consideration of United Nations Security Council resolutions and
international treaties; (2)
the direct and intensive negotiations between the Greek and Turkish
Cypriot leaders, which began in January 2002, and which are continuing on
a regular basis, have been most welcome and are encouraged to continue
until a comprehensive settlement has been achieved; (3)
while a successful resolution of the Cyprus problem would
facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, in the absence
of such a resolution, the accession of Cyprus to the European Union could
act as a further catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem without
the latter being a precondition for accession and with all relevant
factors being considered; (4)
membership of the Republic of Cyprus in the European Union should
be strongly supported; (5)
all Cypriots be urged to support and encourage efforts to bring the
Republic of Cyprus into the European Union; and (6)
the
various agencies of the United States Government in support of United
Nations efforts to facilitate a settlement should pursue as an issue of
high priority new initiatives that will help promote and achieve
reunification, reconciliation, stability, and prosperity on Cyprus.
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