CONGRESSIONAL RECORD – EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

September 25, 1974

Page 32680

SENATORS JACKSON, JAVITS, MUSKIE, AND BAYH ANSWER GREEK STAR LETTER ON CYPRUS

HON. JOHN BRADEMAS OF INDIANA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 25, 1974

Mr. BRADEMAS. Mr. Speaker, I insert in the RECORD the answers to five questions on Cyprus given by Senators JACKSON, JAVITS, MUSKIE, and BAYH in response to an inquiry by the Greek Star of Chicago.

The response to which I refer follows:

[From the Greek Star, Sept. 19, 1974]

JACKSON, JAVITS, MUSKIE, BAYH, ANSWER GREEK STAR LETTER ON CYPRUS

Answering a five-point questionnaire on Cyprus, addressed to them by The Greek Star recently, many U.S. Senators, Congressmen and State Governors made very clear their opposition to the Turkish aggression of the Independent Republic of Cyprus.

The five questions were:

(1) Do you support the UN Resolution 353 demanding the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus?

(2) Do you support the return of all Cyprus refugees to their homes?

(3) Are you opposed to any attempt by Turkey to settle the "occupied" area of Cyprus with Turks from the mainland?

(4) Do you support a large scale program of relief for all Cypriots?

(5) Do you believe the United States should take the lead in negotiating a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus crisis which guarantees the independence and sovereignty of Cyprus, with full adherence to the UN charter, including guarantees of the minority rights?

SENATOR JACKSON DEAR EDITOR:

Thank you very much for your recent letter and for the related material on the situation in Cyprus. I share your concern over the grave consequences of the Turkish invasion of the island.

In my view, we cannot allow the future of Cyprus to be dictated by naked military force.

As you know, I have urged the Administration to stand firm in support of an independent Cyprus whose political arrangements reflect the views of the Cypriots themselves. I am enclosing two items about this important question which I hope will be of interest to you.

With good wishes,

Sincerely yours,

HENRY M. JACKSON,

U.S. Senator, (Wash.).

SENATOR MUSKIE

DEAR EDITOR:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me about your deep sense of concern over the tragic events which have occurred in Cyprus in recent weeks, and about the direction of U.S. policy during the crisis. I appreciated hearing from you.

I agree with you that our government should urge the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus. The unhappy state of U.S.-Greek relations has continued to deteriorate because of the continued silence of our government on the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Despite the breakdown of peace negotiations in Geneva, I hope that the intervention of Secretary General Waldheim of the United Nations will help bring the disputing parties together to negotiate a lasting peace settlement.

Let me assure you that I will do what I can to encourage a more enlightened American policy on the issue, and that I will keep your our views in mind.

With best wishes, I am

Sincerely,

EDMUND S. MUSKIE.

U.S. Senator, Maine.

SENATOR JAVITS

DEAR EDITOR:

Thank you for your letter concerning the dangerous and heart-rending crisis on Cyprus. You may be sure that I understand and appreciate the profound concern that prompted you to write.

The true dimensions of the Cyprus crisis may not as yet be appreciated fully by the American people, except by the Greek-American community, which has watched fellow Greeks being killed, maimed and subjugated by naked military force while the whole world seemed to stand by immobilized.

On September 5, I introduced S. Con. Res. 115 in the Senate which condemns in clear and unmistakable terms the irresponsible and dangerously short-sighted actions of Turkey on Cyprus.

Turkey's efforts to impose its will be force cannot be acquiesced in by the United States or by the world community. Such actions have dangerously exacerbated tensions on Cyprus and in the Mediterranean, are completely counterproductive to any lasting settlement of the crisis and are totally out of date in these times.

The resolution I have introduced also focuses on two critical elements of a settlement of the crisis; the continued provision of emergency relief for all Cypriot refugees coupled with a comprehensive program of economic assistance to rehabilitate the crippled Cypriot nation and economy; and removal of all foreign troops from Cyprus with the exception of United Nations peacekeeping forces.

To provide you with a detailed understanding of my position on the tragic crisis on Cyprus, I enclose the text of S. Con. Res. 115 and my introductory remarks.

Thank you for taking the time to write and to give me your views.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

JACOB K. JAMS,

Senator, New Yolk.

SENATOR BAYH

DEAR FRIENDS:

Because you have expressed your concern about the recent events on Cyprus, I would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on the steps I have taken to bring about a change in the direction of American policy in this matter.

As you may know, I have joined with those calling for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus in order to permit the Cypriot people to reach an agreement on the future of their country and personally written to Secretary of State Kissinger on this matter. I have enclosed a copy of my letter to the Secretary for your review.

Most recently, I have joined with Senators Abourezk and McGovern in offering an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act which will suspend all aid to Turkey until an agreement is reached which is acceptable to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. I have also co-sponsored S. Res. 397 which calls upon the President to implement the provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Foreign Military Sales Act and end all military aid to Turkey. These Acts prohibit the use of American supplied defense articles for offense actions, such as the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

By these actions I hope we will be able to display to the Turkish government our commitment to the continued existence of the independent Cypriot state, and to present to the Greek government an evenhanded policy which seeks to uphold the North Atlantic Charter principle of self- determination for all people. Only by implementing such a policy will be able to expedite a return to stability in the eastern Mediterranean and a revitalization of the NATO alliance.

You can be sure that I will be following developments in this situation very carefully in the days ahead. I appreciate your sharing your views on this difficult problem with me.

Sincerely,

BIRCH BAYH,

U.S. Senator, Indiana.