[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 118 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                 CYPRUS

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 20, 1995
  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the 21st anniversary of 
Turkey's illegal occupation of the independent Island of Cyprus. This 
is a dilemma that must be addressed.
  Today, there is no more hope for a settlement to the crisis then 
there was 20 years ago. It is a shame that a country that was founded 
with such promise and vision has deteriorated into a land torn by 
faction.
  The tiny Island of Cyprus gained its independence from Great Britain 
in 1960. The Cypriots are divided along ethnic lines with 76 percent of 
the citizens of Greek origin and 19 percent of Turkish origin. To take 
into account this ethnic division, the first provision of the Cyprus 
constitution required a Greek Cypriot President and a Turkish Cypriot 
Vice President. Upon independence, the United States praised the new 
country for its ``effort to create a new state based on the cooperation 
of different ethnic communities.''
  However, peace on the Island of Cyprus lasted only until 1963 when 
President Makarios proposed constitutional revisions that strengthened 
the Greek majority. The strenuous relationship deteriorated until 1974 
when Greek hardliners supported a coup of President Makarios. In 
response to these threatening acts, the Turkish Government sent troops 
into Cyprus and seized control of a significant portion of the island.
  Today, the two ethnic groups live in separate areas of the island 
with the United Nations maintaining a buffer zone. Settlement efforts 
have stalled on differences of how to solve the matter. In fact, a 
recent calmness on the island has disturbed some officials in the 
United Nations. The Secretary General of the U.N. has stressed that it 
is not a reason for optimism, but rather a cause for serious concern. 
It signifies not a peace initiative, but a strengthening of forces. In 
response to these actions, on June 27, 1995, the House approved an 
amendment by my colleague, Congressman John Porter of Illinois, to the 
foreign operations appropriations bill--H.R. 1868--that would reduce 
the aid to Turkey by 50 percent until they withdraw their troops from 
Cyprus. I supported this measure.
  Mr. Chairman, tumult such as this must come to an end. It is time 
that peace comes to the Island of Cyprus.


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