| September 25, 2002 The Honorable William M. Thomas Dear Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the national membership of the American Hellenic Institute, I am writing to voice our serious reservations concerning controversial legislation (H.R. 5002) that would significantly open U.S. markets to Turkish products. We are fundamentally opposed to our government rewarding Turkey with increased market access, at the cost of American jobs, at the same time that Turkey maintains its military occupation of Cyprus. Such a move would run counter to American values and undermine our long-standing efforts to promote peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. As you know, despite calls from President Bush for a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem, the Turkish government has steadfastly refused to remove its military forces and blocked every attempt at a negotiated solution. Adopting this legislation without meaningfully addressing the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus would amount to turning a blind eye to a blatant and ongoing violation of international law. Such an action would embolden Turkey to continue standing in the way of the peace process, and contribute to the further institutionalization of the occupation. We are particularly opposed to this legislation being railroaded through a miscellaneous trade bill. Rather, it should be the subject of the normal committee procedure of hearings, expert testimony, and mark-ups. In this process, the clear requirement should be placed upon Turkey to remove its troops from Cyprus and require Mr. Rauf Denktash to negotiate in good faith on a Cyprus solution before Turkey is allowed to benefit from increased access to American markets. Thank you very much for the opportunity to bring this matter to your attention and for your consideration regarding our concerns.
Sincerely, Gene Rossides
Enclosure |
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09-25-02 Letter To Representative William M. Thomas
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