[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SITUATION IN CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 1996

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the recent shootings of two young Cypriots 
and a Turkish Cypriot soldier highlight the need to demilitarize Cyprus 
as a first step toward achieving a just and lasting solution to the 
Cyprus problem. Last fall, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a 
resolution calling for demilitarization, and its was subsequently 
approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  Unfortunately, demilitarization will not occur demilitarization, and 
it was subsequently approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  Unfortunately, demilitarization will not occur unless Turkey 
demonstrates the political will to compromise. In order for that to 
happen, the United States and its European allies must make a concerted 
effort to convince Turkey that an end to the division of Cyprus is in 
everyone's security interest.
  I urge all Members to consider the following letter to the editor 
submitted by Andrew J. Jacovides, the Ambassador of the Republic of 
Cyprus and respected colleague. Mr. Jacovides makes a compelling case 
in support of a strong effort toward Cyprus reunification and the 
protection of human rights on the island. It appeared in the Washington 
Post on September 9, 1996.

               [From the Washington Post, Sept. 9, 1996]

                    Cyprus: The Problem Is Solvable

                        (By Andrew J. Jacovides)

       The editorial ``Cyprus: Try Everything'' [Aug. 26], though 
     well intended and timely, particularly in the wake of the 
     recent brutal murders of two unarmed young Greek Cypriots who 
     were peacefully demonstrating their justifiable feelings 
     against Turkish occupation, miscasts some of the main 
     relevant issues.
       The recent events demonstrate that the status quo of 
     occupation and forcible division is unacceptable and is 
     indeed a source of tension and instability as well as the 
     cause of grave injustice and much human suffering. In fact, 
     there is much more in common that can unite Greek and Turkish 
     Cypriots than the differences that at present divide them 
     (though, of course, this does not hold true for the Anatolian 
     settlers or the ``Grey Wolves'' imported from Turkey).
       The Cyprus problem is solvable, and the basis for its 
     solution lies within the parameters defined by U.N. 
     resolutions, voted for also by the United States. In addition 
     to the prospect of Cyprus's accession to the European Union 
     highlighted in The Post's editorial, the demilitarization of 
     Cyprus is a key element. In a resolution overwhelmingly 
     adopted by the House of Representatives last September, 
     Congress ``considers that ultimate, total demilitarization of 
     the Republic of Cyprus would meet the security concerns of 
     all parties involved, would enhance prospects for a peaceful 
     and lasting resolution of the dispute regarding Cyprus, would 
     benefit all of the people of Cyprus, and merits international 
     support.''
       There has been no lack of prominent diplomats engaged in 
     the search for a Cyprus settlement, including Richard 
     Holbrooke, Richard Beattie and, most recently, U.N. 
     Ambassador Madeleine Albright. We certainly welcome such 
     engagement. What is lacking, however, is the political will 
     and the flexibility necessary to make a breakthrough toward a 
     compromise solution on the part of Ankara, which has long 
     held the key to such a solution through its military, 
     economic and political dominance of the occupied northern 
     part of Cyprus since 1974. Regrettably, the current regime in 
     Turkey does not hold much promise that this will happen soon, 
     unless there is a concerted international effort directed 
     toward Ankara.
       A just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem is to the 
     benefit of all parties concerned and is in fact crucial to 
     improved relations between Greece and Turkey. For the United 
     States, which has excellent relations with Cyprus as 
     highlighted during the recent visit of President Glafcos 
     Clerides to Washington, such a solution enjoys bipartisan 
     support and is in the national interest. It can be achieved 
     with active U.S. engagement and will be a foreign policy 
     success for the United States and indeed for any 
     administration.
       The issue is not to just ``try everything'' but to take all 
     appropriate and effective steps to end the division of the 
     island and safeguard the security and human rights of all its 
     people in a demilitarized, federal Cyprus within the European 
     Union.

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