Presidential Candidate Bill Bradley Calls For Cyprus Solution "Consistent With Fundamental Democratic Principles And Unresolutions;" States "Borders In The Aegean Are Delineated By International Agreement;" And Calls For Religious Freedom For Ecumenical Patriarchate

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley responded on February 17, 2000 to the American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee Presidential Candidate Questionnaire with the following important comments:

1. A "special relationship" with Greece
   "The relationship between Greece, the home of democracy, and the United States, must always be 'special.'" It derives from shared fundamental values- values at the core of Western civilization- that for Greeks as for Americans are immutable."
2. Territorial Disputes in the Aegean
   "Borders in the Aegean are delineated by international agreements, and the sovereign territory of Greece is buttressed by international agreements including the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the NATO Treaty."
3. Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul
   Bradley calls for religious freedom in Turkey in accordance with the Helsinki Final Act and states that "Turkey has an obligation to ensure that the Ecumenical Patriarchate can operate freely, including with respect to the Halki School of Theology, and the United States has an obligation to hold Turkey to that high standard."
4. The Cyprus Problem
   Bradley states that Cyprus' "unnatural division, now a quarter-century old, is intolerable both as a gross human rights violation and a major security risk for American interests in the Mediterranean." Bradley states that "a solution should be consistent with fundamental democratic principles and UN resolutions and lead to the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops."
5. U.S. Policy Towards Turkey
   Bradley "believes the United States needs to be certain that its policy toward Turkey is fully consistent with our values and our security interests. This means that the U.S. must hold Turkey to the high standard of human rights and fundamental freedoms that we expect of all NATO members and resolutely encourage the development of vigorous Turkish democratic institutions." Bradley states that he "will critically review and reorder any policy that is inconsistent with these principles."
6. Turkey's EU Candidacy
   Bradley "applauds the decision of the European Union to accept Turkey as a candidate for membership subject to the conditions set by the Helsinki Summit in December 1999, a step made possible by Greek statesmanship."