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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: C. Franciscos Economides
May 10, 2005—No.39 (202) 785-8430

Legislation Introduced Regarding the Maritime Borders Between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean

WASHINGTON, D.C.�On April 21, 2005, Representative Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ) reintroduced H.Con.Res.137, "Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding Turkey's claims of sovereignty over islands and islets in the Aegean Sea." The Resolution establishes that:

  1. "the maritime boundaries established in the 1923 Lausanne Treaty of Peace, the 1932 Convention and Protocol Between Italy and Turkey, and the 1947 Paris Treaty of Peace, as well as international law, under which the Dodecanese islands and adjacent islets were ceded by Italy to Greece, are the borders between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea; and
  2. any party, including Turkey, objecting to these established boundaries should seek redress in the International Court of Justice at The Hague."

H.Con.Res.137 expresses the view of the House of Representatives that the boundaries between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean have been established once and for all and that islands and islets on the Greek side, including the islets of Imia, are the sovereign territory of Greece.

Original co-sponsors of H.Con.Res.137 are Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA).

H.Con.Res.137 incorporates language initiated by AHI and first introduced November 7, 1997 by Rep. Michael Pappas (R-NJ) in the 105th Congress.

Regarding the resolution, AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis stated:

"AHI commends Rep. Andrews for reintroducing this resolution. It reaffirms the core American interest in the rule of law. AHI thanks the current co-sponsors and urges all members of Congress to co-sponsor and support H.Con.Res.137."

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For additional information, please contact C. Franciscos Economides at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information regarding the activities of AHI, please view our Web site at http://www.ahiworld.org.

 


The American Hellenic Institute is a nonprofit public policy organization that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and also within the American Hellenic community.

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Phone 202-785-8430 | Fax 202-785-5178 | www.ahiworld.org

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THE AMERICAN HELLENIC Institute (AHI), was founded on August 1, 1974, following Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus with the illegal use of American-supplied arms in violation of U.S. laws and agreements. The AHI initiated the rule of law issue in the Congress in the interests of the U.S., thus changing the face of American politics. <<<Continue>>>

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