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U.S. CONGRESS VOTES ON AID TO CYPRUS, GREECE AND TURKEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- JUNE 26, 1997

This week a key committee in the Senate and a key subcommittee in the House of Representatives voted on the annual bill that determines how much aid the U.S. will send to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey in the next fiscal year. What follows is a report on the treatment of aid to these three countries.

In the U.S. Senate, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) led efforts to maintain the traditional $15 million earmark for Cyprus. On June 24 the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted a Mikulski amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill restoring the earmark for Cyprus' aid. In the face of administration opposition, this earmark had been removed to, according to the report accompanying the bill, "afford [the U.S.] flexibility...[and] to maximize leverage in this next round of [Cyprus] negotiations." Senator Mikulski appropriately restored the language in the bill mandating that these funds be sent to Cyprus for "bicommunal projects, and measures aimed at reunification of the island and designed to reduce tensions and promote peace and cooperation between the two communities." This Senate bill also maintained the 10-to-7 ratio of military aid to Greece and Turkey. Greece would receive $122.5 million in loans for military equipment and Turkey $175 million -- the same amounts as appropriated last year and as requested by the administration this year.

In the House of Representatives Congressman John Porter (R-IL) led efforts to cut aid to Turkey. While the administration requested $50 million in economic aid for Turkey, the bill approved by the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee would not allow more than $20 million to be sent to the Government of Turkey. An additional $20 million would be made available for non-governmental organizations for activities to build democracy and improve human rights in Turkey. This House bill also maintains the 10-to-7 ratio of military aid to Greece and Turkey, but would send reduced amounts of military loans to these two countries -- $105 million to Greece and $150 million to Turkey. As in previous years, no countries received an earmark in this bill.

For more information, please contact Mike Manatos at (202) 393-7790.