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Encourage Your U.S. Representative to Vote for A Renewed Effort to Find a Just and Lasting Settlement to the Cyprus Problem - H.Res.165 BACKGROUND A comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem was presented and proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan to the President of the Republic of Cyprus and to the [censored]-Cypriot leader, as well as to the guarantor powers, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Turkey on Nov. 11, 2002. Since that time, the Plan has undergone a series of revisions, culminating with a meeting on March 10, 2003, of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos and [censored]-Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash at The Hague. There, Secretary General Annan asked the two leaders to sign a commitment to submit the Plan to approval in separate, simultaneous referenda on March 30. Unfortunately, the Plan failed when [censored]-Cypriot Leader Denktash rejected both the comprehensive settlement plan and the referendum proposal. The U.S. government has expressed disappointment the Secretary General's efforts was rejected. As a result, H.Res.165 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, expressing support for a renewed effort to find a peaceful, just, and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. U.S. Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-9-FL), co-founder and co-chair of the Hellenic Caucus, is an Original Sponsor, as is U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-14-NY). Additionally, U.S. Rep. Doug Berueter (R-1-NE) is an Original Sponsor. STATUS H.Res.165 is scheduled TODAY on the House's suspension schedule as the last order of business. It will come up on the floor for debate and a vote is probable. A 2/3 VOTE IS NEEDED FOR PASSAGE. It has 18 co-sponsors. They are: Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-5-NY); Rep. Robert Andrews (D-1-NJ); Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-1-NV); Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-9-FL); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-3-OR); Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-7-NY); Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-1-VA); Rep. David Dreier (R-26-CA); Rep. Eliot Engel (D-17-NY); Rep. Bob Filner (D-51-CA); Rep. Barbara Lee (D-9-CA); Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-14-NY); Rep. James McGovern (D-3-MA); Rep. Martin Meehan (D-5-MA); Rep. Robert Menedez (D-13-NJ); Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6-NJ); Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-18-FL); and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-27-CA). ACTION 1. Watch debate on H.Res.165 on C-SPAN. It is estimated to begin around 2 pm Eastern time. 2. CALL your Member of Congress (U.S. Representative) at his/her Washington Office and ask for his/her support for H.Res.165, voting FOR the Resolution. Contact your Representative by telephone by dialing the U.S. Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121. Please contact us if you have any questions or problems contacting your Member of Congress. Also, please let us know if you have successfully contacted your member of Congress' office. Thank you. Andrew G. Kaffes Director of Public Relations American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association AHEPA 1909 Q St., NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 Phone 202.232.6300; Ext .204 Fax 202.232.2140 |