Skip Gibson Cyprus/Greece/Armenia/Turkey memo to Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and S. L. K., April 29, 2002

Memo To: RLE, SLK From: Skip Gibson Subject: Cyprus - Greece - Armenia - Turkey P.L. 107-118 Date: April 29, 2002 Background Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Greek Cypriots, nearly 80% of the population, live in the southern two thirds of the island. Turkish Cypriots live in the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (recognized only by Turkey), with about 30,000 Turkish troops providing security. U.N. peacekeeping forces maintain a buffer zone between the two. Since the late 1970s, the U.N., with U.S. support, has promoted negotiations aimed at creating a federal, bicommunal, bizonal republic on Cyprus. The two sides would pledge not to move toward union with any other country. This reflects concerns that Greek Cypriots would like to unite with Greece and that Turkish Cypriots seek to partition the island, linking the north to Turkey. A January 4, 1997, confirmation that Greek Cypriots would acquire Russian S-300 missiles prompted the United States to deplore the purchase and Turkey to threaten military action to prevent deployment and to bond closer to Turkish Cyprus. The missiles were the focus of intense crisis prevention efforts. On December 29, 1998, Glafcos Clerides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, decided not to deploy the missiles on Cyprus. In June 1 999, the G-8 group of industrialized countries and Russia suggested that the Secretary General invite the parties to negotiations in fall 1999. Clerides and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriotic leader, participated in five rounds of U.N.-mediated proximity (indirect) talks beginning in December 1999. On November 8, 2000, the Secretary General gave the two leaders his "observations" on substance and procedure. In reaction, Denktash withdrew from talks until two separate states were recognized. Denktash and Clerides met on Cyprus on December 4, 2001, and agreed to hold direct talks beginning January 16, 2002. They have met many times since January 2, and talks continue. From 1995 through the end of 1997 RLE cast votes consistently calling for Turkey to end its occupation of northern Cyprus. Moreover, RLE’s voting record consistently encourages Turkey to acknowledge that the Ottoman Turk Empire committed “genocide” at the end of WWI when it forcibly moved and killed approximately 1.5 million Armenians. Current Status There have been no floor votes, either full resolutions or amendments, specifically on the Cypriot issue during the last three Congresses. Each year, Cyprus receives approximately $15 million in direct economic support funding (ESF) from the U.S.