Speech #940114365

The bill in front of us is a partial restoration only for pipeline aid. but no new sales are authorized. and the pipeline aid attributed to grant aid is withheld completely. In my view. one can have a good argument either for or against the bill without any difficulty. The central issue. in my judgment. centers on the welfare of the refugees on Cyprus and the problems facing both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots. They are at the center of this controversy and it is their welfare that should be our concern. In my view. the United States is one now of three parties. the United States. Greece and Turkey. and we are the ones who can show that we are not frozen in cement. We are the ones who are somewhat removed from the emotions of the controversy and can indicate some modest movement. in the hope of getting negotiations started. I am not optimistic the negotiations will start if we pass this bill. but I am reasonably convinced that if we fail to pass the bill there will be no help to the refugees of Cyprus and no movement toward a resolution of the political problem. and this is what concerns me very deeply. George Ball testified before our committee against the bill when it was in the committee. He said that we have to uphold the American law that forbids the use of American weapons for offensive purposes.