Excerpts from the "Foreign Policy Reform Act", 97-05-06

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On May 6, 1997, the Committee on International Relations reported out favorably H.R. 1486, the Foreign Policy Reform Act, to consolidate international affairs agencies, to reform foreign assistance programs, to authorize appropriations for foreign assistance programs and for the Department of State and related agencies for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, and for other purposes.

The following are excerpts from the "Foreign Policy Reform Act"

Sec. 425. Loans for Greece and Turkey

Sec. 501.
- Cyprus
- Eastern Mediterranean

Sec. 1712. Sense of Congress Relating to Recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the Government of Turkey.

- LOANS FOR GREECE AND TURKEY

Of the amounts made available for fiscal year 1998 under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763)--

(1) not more than $12,850,000 shall be made available for the subsidy cost, as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of direct loans for Greece; and

(2) not more than $33,150,000 shall be made available for such subsidy cost of direct loans for Turkey.

Sec. 425.--Loans for Greece and Turkey. Section 425 authorizes not more than $12,850,000 in fiscal year 1998 for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act for the subsidy cost to support a direct military assistance loan program for Greece of $122.5 million and not more than $33,150,000 in fiscal year 1998 for the subsidy cost to support a direct military assistance loan program for Turkey of $175 million. This fully funds the President's request for fiscal year 1998.

No military assistance loans for Greece or Turkey are authorized for fiscal year 1999.

- Cyprus

The Committee firmly believes that it is in the interest of the United States to launch an early substantive initiative to achieve a peaceful, just, viable and lasting solution on the basis of international law, democratic principles, respect for human rights and the provisions of relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions. These resolutions, most recently, 1092/96 of December 23, 1996, appropriately define the basis for such a settlement as, ``a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council Resolutions in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition on secession.''

The current military situation on Cyprus, in particular the large number of Turkish occupation troops, is also a constant source of tension and instability, both on the island and in the wider region. Recent foreign arms transfers and the threat of increased armaments on Cyprus are also of concern to the Congress. The Committee reaffirms its view, most recently embodied in H. Con. Res. 42 and in the 104th Congress, that the security concerns of all parties concerned can most effectively be met with the complete withdrawal of all foreign occupation forces from the island and the total demilitarization of Cyprus, to be replaced by alternative internationally acceptable and effective security arrangements as negotiated by the parties. Such security arrangements will strengthen peace and stability and in the region, be to the benefit of all the people of Cyprus, and enhance prospects for a lasting resolution of the problem.

The prospect of Cyprus accession to the European Union (EU) can also serve as a catalyst for efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement. Negotiations for Cyprus' accession are set to begin six months after the conclusion of the EU Intergovernmental Conference (which is expected to end in June of this year). This prospect provides a positive dynamic and window of opportunity for a solution and in the coming year.

Cyprus' accession to the EU, as well as a just and viable Cyprus settlement, will be significant economic, political and security benefit to all Cypriots. A Cyprus solution will also remove a point of contention between Greece and Turkey and can allow the prospect of full normalization of the often tenuous Greco-Turkish relationship, bringing greater stability to the Eastern Mediterranean and directly benefiting U.S. security interests. The prospects of reaching a lasting settlement on Cyprus are facilitated through increasing bicommunal contact, cooperation and reconciliation. The traditionally allocated $15 million from the Economic Support Fund each year for Cyprus is used for projects involving such bicommunal activities and thus plays a significant role and in promoting prospects for peace on Cyprus. The Committee strongly recommends that the annual allocation of $15 million for Cyprus be continued for both fiscal years 1998 and 1999.

- Eastern Mediterranean

The United States and other countries have also expressed strong public opposition to the use of force or the threat of force by any country to resolve such matters. It is essential to peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean that all countries abide by these internationally accepted standards of conduct.

- SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO RECOGNITION OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY

It is the sense of the Congress that the United States--

(1) should recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate and its nonpolitical, religious mission;

(2) should encourage the continued maintenance of the institution's physical security needs, as provided for under Turkish and international law; and

(3) should use its good offices to encourage the reopening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki Patriarchal School of Theology.

In recent years the Ecumenical Patriarchate has experienced a number of security threats in Turkey. On September 30, 1996, the Patriarchate came under grenade and machine gun attack during which an explosion damaged the roof of the Patriarchal Cathedral and blew windows out of the sleeping quarters. On May 28, 1994, three powerful bombs were found and diffused by Turkish security forces only a few minutes before they were to detonate. On March 30, 1994 two firebombs were hurled into the Patriarchate. The Ecumenical Patriarch and those associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate are Turkish citizens and entitled to the full protection of Turkish law.

The reopening of the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology, the only educational institution for Orthodox Christian leadership in Turkey is vital for the long-term viability of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Turkish government closed the school in 1971. Turkish law requires that the Ecumenical Patriarch, as well as all the clergy, faculty and students, to be Turkish citizens. The Halki school is the only educational institution in Turkey for Orthodox Christian leadership. The closing of the school is in violation of international treaties to which Turkey has been a signatory, including but not limited to the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1968 Protocol, the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the Charter of Paris.

The Committee strongly supports the recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the reopening of the Halki Theological Seminary. It believes that the U.S. government should use its diplomatic resources to actively encourage the Turkish government along these lines, and also to continue to ensure the security of the Patriarch and property belonging to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

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