H.Res. 308 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 308 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 19, 2013 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing support to end the 39-year-old division of the Republic of Cyprus. Whereas the House of Representatives supports the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus and acknowledges steps taken that hold the promise of ending the 39-year-old division of the Republic of Cyprus; Whereas in February 2013, the Republic of Cyprus elected President Nicos Anastasiades; Whereas the newly elected President of Cyprus has expressed his commitment to resume United Nations-sponsored discussions to reach a just and viable settlement based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions; Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides met in Washington, DC, in May 2013 and discussed a variety of issues, included initiatives involving several confidence-building proposals; Whereas the United States recognizes the discovery of significant offshore gas reserves in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus; Whereas the United States supports the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and Israel to explore and process energy reserves in accordance with international law; Whereas this discovery could potentially provide greater energy security for Europe and Israel as well as act as a stabilizing and unifying factor in the Eastern Mediterranean; Whereas the United States fully supports strengthening the cooperation efforts between the Republic of Cyprus and the democratic Jewish State of Israel; and Whereas the House of Representatives commends the Cypriot Government for initiating procedures toward establishing membership in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) will continue to support the security and stability of this volatile and strategically important region of the world through collaborative efforts with our ally the Republic of Cyprus; (2) fully supports the resumption of discussions to find a just and viable settlement based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and end the 39-year division of the island; and (3) supports the important partnership between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel.