Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby blocks draft bill in US Congress

The draft bill failed in the Europe subcommittee of the international relations committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in the absence of a majority vote in its support, Anatolia news agency said. Three members of the committee voted for the bill, while three votes were against.

The result was a result of efforts by the powerful Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby in the Congress, Anatolia said, quoting diplomatic sources in Washington.

The draft bill was presented by Democrat Congressman Robert Wexler, head of the Turkey caucus in the U.S. Congress.

Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly voted for a U.N. plan aimed at reunification of the island in an April 24 referendum. But the plan failed as it was rejected by Greek Cypriots. United States and the EU have pledged to take measures to end international isolation of Turkish Cypriots after the referendum in reward to their "yes" vote for reunification.

The failed bill praised Turkish Cypriots for their supporting stance. It also commended Erdogan for his "courageous leadership" and noted that the U.N. plan had been supported by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

It applauded the U.S. administration and the EU for their decisions to support ending isolation of Turkish Cypriots. The EU Commission proposed in July a set of measures to enable direct trade with Turkish Cypriots and grant them financial aid but those proposals still await ministers’ approval.

Anatolia said the bill, if it had been enacted, would have given the U.S. administration a stronger position to pursue pledged efforts to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots, although it contained some clauses that were not likely to be welcomed in Ankara.

The bill was not expected to reach the foreign relations committee or the House floor.