H-2375              _______________________________________________

                                           HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4023

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                        1989 First Special Session

By Representatives Vekich and Anderson

Read first time 5/1/89.

TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, Many years have passed since the Turkish invasion and the Cyprus problem remains one of denied redress; and

          WHEREAS, The humanitarian crisis involving at least two hundred thousand refugees and countless missing persons grows increasingly more desperate; and

          WHEREAS, The Government of the Republic of Cyprus rendered substantive assistance to our wounded marines in Lebanon; and

          WHEREAS, By the illegal use of United States supplied military weapons in violation of the United States Foreign Assistance and Sales Acts, and in violation of the Charter of the United Nations Organization, Turkey has attacked, seized and continues to occupy thirty-eight percent of the territory of the independent nation of Cyprus; and

          WHEREAS, Turkey is currently the recipient of financial and military assistance approaching one billion dollars per annum;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that  the President and the Congress of the United States:

          (1) Assist the United Nations Secretary General in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem based on the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, with international guarantees for the unity, sovereignty, and independence of the Republic of Cyprus;

          (2) Stop subsidizing, through its aid to Turkey, the illegal occupation of Cyprus until a mutually acceptable solution is found;

          (3) Exert their best efforts with Turkey to effectuate, prior to a final agreement:

          (a) The return of the FAMAGUSTA-VAROSHA and MORPHOU regions to Greek Cypriot control;

          (b) The removal of the thirty-five thousand Turkish occupation troops and sixty thousand colonizers from the island;

          (c) To restore to the people of Cyprus majority rule with minority rights guaranteed, freedom of movement, freedom of settlement, and the right to own property anywhere in the republic.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That the President and the Congress give generous support to the Cypriot refugees; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the President and the Congress review the current policies of Turkey regarding its treatment of the ethnic and religious minorities residing in Turkey; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.