Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow U.S. citizens who own property in the Turkish occupied portion of the Republic of Cyprus to seek financial remedies with either the current inhabitants of their land or the Turkish government. The New Jersey Congressman is pleased to be joined by U.S. Reps. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, as original sponsors of this legislation.

For the 30 years since Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus, U.S. citizens who own real property in the portion of the Republic of Cyprus that is occupied by Turkey have been excluded from the use and enjoyment of that real property. Pallone said it's unconscionable that Turkey, a U.S. ally, who has been, and continues to be, the beneficiary of significant aid and support from this nation, excludes U.S. citizens from property to which they hold lawful titles under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus.

"Eight administrations, both Democrat and Republican, have allowed this deplorable situation to fester," Pallone said. "It's time for Congress to act so these U.S. citizens have the opportunity to seek remedies for being illegally excluded from their real property by Turkey, and so that internationally recognized principles of law on property ownership are reaffirmed."

The American Owned Property In Occupied Cyprus Claims Act , (H.R. 5071) will enable U.S. citizens to seek remedies in the following three different ways:

1) The bill authorizes the President to initiate a claims program under which the claims of U.S. nationals who Turkey has excluded from their property in occupied Cyprus can be judged by the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission (FCSC) and compensated through government-to-government negotiations between the United States and Turkey.

2) The bill empowers the United States district courts to hear causes of action asserted by U.S. nationals who have been excluded from their property in occupied Cyprus against private persons or entities that occupy or use the property of U.S. nationals in occupied Cyprus.

3) The bill empowers the United States district courts to hear causes of action asserted by U.S. nationals who have been excluded from property their in occupied Cyprus against Turkey without having to assert those causes of action under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 as amended.