[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5458-H5472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE INVASION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 7, 1997, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, once again, it is my sad privilege to 
address the House to remind all of America of the invasion of the 
Republic of Cyprus.
  As we know, 1997 is the 23d year of divided rule on the island; 1997 
has also been hailed as the year of Cyprus. Although I am greatly 
saddened that the northern portion of the island remains occupied by 
Turkish troops, on this map here, actually, this is called the green 
line, and in actuality, in order to see it better, we have it colored 
in blue here and you can see that the northern part of the island is 
separated from the southern portion.
  I do remain hopeful and optimistic that we are 1 year closer to a 
just solution. It is imperative, Mr. Speaker, that we continue to build 
upon the progress that was made during 1996, referred to in some 
quarters as the year of the big push.
  The divided island of Cyprus is certainly ready for peace. There are 
families who are certainly ready for answers as well. They want answers 
to what happened to their loved ones who disappeared 23 years ago 
during the Turkish invasion.
  To this day, there are still five American citizens among the 1,619 
people still missing from the invasion. These families want to end 
sleepless nights of wondering whether or not their loved ones are still 
alive. Hopefully, these questions will be answered and these families 
will finally be given peace of mind.
  Our ultimate goal should be peace for all citizens of Cyprus. 
However, peace will not come without the strong and active leadership 
of the United States. The United Nations has unsuccessfully attempted 
to resolve the differences between the two Cypriot communities.
  Since 1974, the United Nations has stationed over 1,000 troops on the 
island to prevent violence from spreading throughout Cyprus. Yet the 
violence has not abated. I strongly support U.N. Resolution 939, which 
calls for a bizonal, bicommunal single state of Cyprus. However, I 
submit we will not achieve this goal by maintaining the status quo.
  I yield at this time to my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York 
[Mrs. Maloney].
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, as I have every year that I have been a 
Member of Congress, it is my honor and sad privilege to stand with the 
gentleman from Florida and remember and commemorate the 23d anniversary 
of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The continued presence 
of Turkish troops represents a growing violation of human rights and 
international law.
  On the positive side, I am pleased with the success that the 
gentleman in Florida and I have had in the formation of the 
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues last year. We now have 62 
Members from both parties and from all regions of the country. 
Democrats, Republicans, liberals, and conservatives have all joined 
together to pursue our common objectives of justice, human rights, and 
stronger ties between the United States and its strong democratic 
allies, Cyprus and Greece.
  Earlier this year, many of the members of the Hellenic Caucus joined 
us in signing a letter to the President to stop the sale of Seahawk 
helicopters. We were successful. No helicopters were sold to Turkey. 
Over the last week, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 
mitigated a nonaggression pact with the Foreign Minister of Greece and 
the Foreign Minister of Turkey.
  Now that Greece and Turkey have come to a peaceful agreement, it will 
allow the focus to be concentrated on a more peaceful solution, 
hopefully, in Cyprus. Last weekend, the President of Cyprus, Glafkos 
Clirides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, met in a first 
round of U.N. talks, and they have agreed to a second round of talks in 
August.
  The appointment of Richard Holbrooke as United States special envoy 
to Cyprus shows the United States' commitment to a settlement in the 
region. In fact, he met with both sides this past Monday. I am pleased 
to be an original cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 81, 
introduced by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], that calls for 
a United States initiative seeking a just and peaceful resolution in 
Cyprus.
  I am hopeful that we will reach a peaceful solution soon, but it must 
be a fair solution. Turkey must withdraw its troops. Imported settlers 
must be returned to their countries of origin. The island must be 
unified without a green line. The almost 200,000 Greek Cypriots who 
were expelled from their homes must have the opportunity to return 
home. We must know what happened to the 1,614 Greek Cypriots and 5 
Americans which were seized by Turkish troops and remain unaccounted 
for to this day.

  The pain of some of my constituents in Astoria, Queens, whose beloved 
family members are still missing, must be put to rest. On this issue, 
there can be no compromise. We will never give up the demand to know 
the fate of people like Chrisaci Loizoi, Andrew Kassapis, and George 
Anastasiou. We must have them accounted for.
  I have many constituents who do not know what happened to their 
brothers, their fathers, their sisters, their mothers. For all they 
know, they are still suffering in some brutish Turkish prison. Human 
decency demands an accounting.
  Over the past few years, we have witnessed tremendous changes around 
the world: The fall of the Berlin Wall, the beginning of steps in the 
Middle East toward peace, and the end of apartheid. It is my sincere 
hope that soon we will be able to add Cyprus to that list of places 
where peace and freedom have triumphed.
  I would like to bring to the attention of my friend, the gentleman 
from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], and to other Members of Congress that 
there will be a meeting and concert in Bryant Park, located in 
Manhattan, NY, this coming Friday to further observe the invasion of 
Cyprus.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I really have to commend the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], my friend and colleague from the other side of 
the aisle, who has worked extremely hard on this issue. Both of us have 
visited Cyprus and we have seen firsthand the green line that separates 
this country; and we both hope that in the coming talks, this line will 
be erased and that finally there will be peace and justice in Cyprus.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York 
[Mrs. Maloney]. I dare say that there are not many people, within or 
without Congress, who have put more time into this issue on behalf of 
those great people, and I thank her so very much. It is such a pleasure 
and honor to work with her on this issue and so many others.
  Continuing with my remarks, Mr. Speaker, last year some of the worst 
human rights abuses occurred on the island since the Turkish invasion. 
Four unarmed Greek Cypriots and one unarmed Turkish Cypriot were shot 
and killed while protesting the division of the island. Nearly 100 
protesters and 14 U.N. peacekeepers were injured throughout the year, 
as well.
  We ask ourselves sometimes, why is an end to the division of Cyprus 
in America's best interest? International stability is a key factor to 
our increasingly global economy. A divided Cyprus

[[Page H5459]]

only continues to serve as a fuse between, lit fuse I might say, 
between two of our NATO allies, Greece and Turkey.
  Twice since the 1974 invasion Greece and Turkey have almost gone to 
war. The most recent incident was in 1996 concerning the Imia Islet 
crisis. The Aegean Sea is home to the world's busiest shipping lanes. 
Indeed, Cyprus is in a key strategic position relative to the 
Mediterranean region and the Suez Canal, which is instrumental in 
supplying oil and other materials vital to the stability of the entire 
region.
  In this map here to my left, we see actually the country of Greece 
here and Turkey here, and then the Republic Island of Cyprus in this 
particular area. And I think it is just very easy to be able to 
determine the tremendously strategic position of that island.
  So it is just imperative that the problems be solved. As such, any 
conflict between Greece and Turkey could disrupt trade in the region 
and have extremely serious consequences for many nations, including the 
United States.

                              {time}  1700

  If the situation in Cyprus continues to deteriorate, there could be 
serious repercussions among other NATO nations and these nations could 
be forced to choose between two allies, Greece or Turkey. In order for 
a lasting peace to be forged, the Turkish militarization of the island 
and of the region must end. Currently there are over 35,000 Turkish 
troops stationed on Cyprus, and in addition Turkey has a large 
amphibious assault force located within 100 miles of the island. The 
proximity of such a significant Turkish presence has led NATO to 
estimate that the island of Cyprus could fall to Turkish troops within 
24 hours should Turkey ever decide to attack.
  U.N. reports cited Turkey's lack of motivation as the reason for the 
stalled peace process. The Turkish Government has stated that it will 
take all necessary steps including military actions to defend Turkey's 
interest on the island. Without U.S. leadership, it is unlikely that a 
lasting peace settlement can be negotiated.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas].
  Mr. PAPPAS. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding and once 
again I commend him for his continued leadership on issues affecting 
Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey and, most important, the people that live in 
those three nations. I look forward to continuing to work with the 
gentleman on these issues and other issues.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to add my voice to the chorus calling for 
justice in Cyprus. Twenty-three years ago, 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 
tanks landed on the north coast of Cyprus and captured nearly 40 
percent of the island.
  Today 35,000 troops occupy the northern portion of Cyprus; 1,619 
people remain missing, including 5 Americans. A barbed wire fence known 
as the Green Line cuts across the island, separating towns and people 
that had lived together for many generations. Mistrust and animosity 
have spread beyond this island to our NATO partners Turkey and Greece. 
This is not good.
  Efforts are undertaken but they are not enough. The United States, 
the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations must do more now 
before this sore develops into a permanent cancer between our NATO 
partners and the peace and security of southeast Europe. We must 
remember that this problem started by the violent invasion of Cyprus by 
Turkey, and lasting peace can only be restored by the removal of the 
Turkish armed aggressors.
  Why has the sad story of the invasion of Cyprus not received more 
attention in the press here in the United States? Maybe it is because 
the press is intimidated to report on this. Turkey, which occupies by 
military force the northern part of Cyprus, has the distinction of 
leading the world in jailing of journalists. More than North Korea, 
more than Communist China, more than Iraq and more than Iran. That is 
why we are here today on the floor and what we are doing is so 
important, because we in a sense are acting as the journalists for the 
world, for the people of Cyprus, bringing to the scrutiny of the public 
what has been censored in Turkey.
  As evidence of this, I cite an editorial that appeared in last week's 
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9. The article notes, ``It is impossible to 
have other freedoms in a country where there is no freedom of the 
press.''
  This past Sunday, the New York Times wrote in an editorial, ``Under 
Turkey's broad antiterrorism law, journalism itself is criminalized and 
reporters face prison time for doing their job.'' It goes on to say, 
``Press freedom is among the casualties of a failed strategy, imposed 
by the military, which Mr. Yilmaz cannot change overnight.''
  And then just yesterday the Washington Post weighed in on the subject 
in an editorial that said, ``Journalists who write about Kurdish 
nationalism from an independent perspective have been at risk of being 
locked up and censored, harassed and beaten. Article 312 of the Turkish 
penal code permits reporting and community on other than the government 
line to be punished as incitement to racial hatred.''
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of my colleagues to join the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], the gentleman from New York 
[Mr. Gilman], the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney], and many 
others in cosponsoring House Concurrent Resolution 81, which would show 
the world that this Congress and this country are committed to seeking 
a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in Cyprus. Let us not 
let this problem caused by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus fester in the 
underbelly of southeastern Europe any longer.
  I urge everyone to pray for a peaceful and just end to the Turkish 
invasion while there is still time to make peace. Again I thank the 
gentleman for his leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the text of the articles referred to in my 
remarks for the Record, as follows:

             [From the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9, 1997]

 Free Speech Under Fire--Turkey Leads The World in Jailing Journalists.

       His name is unfamiliar to most Americans; his newspaper, 
     unknown here. But his case should be a cause for anyone who 
     cherishes the right too often taken for granted in this 
     nation; to publish criticism of the government.
       Ocak Isik Yurteu was imprisoned on Dec. 28, 1994, for 
     editing a daily newspaper critical of the Turkish government, 
     and is now serving a 15-year, 10-month sentence under the 
     country's abusive antiterror law. ``Nobody in the world has 
     been sentenced to so many years in prison for articles others 
     have written,'' he said from Sakarya Prison last year.
       But then, no country in the world imprisons journalists and 
     smothers press freedoms more egregiously than Turkey. 
     According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), for 
     three years running Turkey has held more journalists in 
     prison than any nation on earth. The count is now 78.
       Most are charged under an antiterror law that effectively 
     classifies all reports on the Kurdish rebellion other than 
     the government's as either ``separatist propaganda'' or 
     ``incitement to racial hatred.'' Imagine if the United States 
     had had such a law during the civil-rights movement.
       Mr. Yurteu's newspaper published what is considered 
     balanced reporting on the Kurdish conflict, but truth is not 
     what the Turkish government wanted its people to read.
       A delegation from CPJ will be arriving in Turkey on 
     Saturday, to champion the cause of Mr. Yurteu and his many 
     jailed colleagues before the nation's top leaders. They will 
     be pushing for the abolition of the repressive laws and the 
     release of the 78 imprisoned journalists.
       They will be demanding that a nation that wants desperately 
     to join the European Union and to take part in the Western 
     world's economic and technological advances, adhere to a 
     fundamental precept of democracy: a free press.
       The imprisoned journalists deserve the support of anyone 
     here who has published an angry letter about the President--
     or written such a letter. Or has called a radio talk show and 
     complained about Congress. Or has passed out leaflets 
     knocking the major or town council.
       It's worth remembering, as Mr. Yurteu wrote, ``It is 
     impossible to have other freedoms in a country where there is 
     no freedom of the press.''
                                                                    ____


                [From the New York Times, July 13, 1997]

                     Turkey, Jailer of Journalists

       Turkey has the shameful distinction of imprisoning more 
     journalists than any country in the world. The New York-based 
     Committee to Protect Journalists has compiled a list of 78 
     reporters, writers and editors now in jail, and the Turkish 
     Press Council reckons the total may be twice as high. Now 
     that a new Government has assumed power, it has a timely 
     opportunity to open those prison doors. Doing so would lessen 
     a stain on Turkey's reputation and enhance the democratic 
     credentials of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's secularist 
     center-right coalition.
       Most of the journalists in prison are charged with 
     disseminating ``separatist propaganda'' or with being members 
     of proscribed

[[Page H5460]]

     pro-Kurdish political groups. In fact, under Turkey's broad 
     anti-terrorism law, journalism itself is criminalized and 
     reporters face prison for doing their job. An emblematic case 
     is that of Ocak Isik Yurtcu, a prominent writer and former 
     newspaper editor who has served 3 years of a 15-year 
     sentence. Mr. Yurtcu's offense was to publish articles about 
     the Turkish Army's scorched-earth campaign against Kurdish 
     insurgents in southeastern Turkey.
       Mr. Yurtcu's plight, along with scores of other cases, will 
     be taken up this summer by a visiting delegation of 
     journalists, among them Terry Anderson and Peter Arnett, at 
     the request of Turkish press organizations. By responding 
     favorably, Prime Minister Yilmaz would signal a halt to 
     Turkey's descent into repression. He would begin to answer 
     critics, especially in the European Union, of Turkey's dismal 
     human rights record, and would set a different example from 
     his immediate secular and Islamic predecessors.
       This is more than a press issue. For nearly a decade Turkey 
     has relied primarily on force to counter Kurdish terrorists, 
     without opening a parallel political attack for a huge, 
     aggrieved ethnic minority. Press freedom is among the 
     casualties of a failed strategy, imposed by the military, 
     which Mr. Yilmaz cannot change overnight. Yet it is within 
     his power to release jailed journalists and decriminalize 
     free speech, an essential precondition for an end to Turkey's 
     domestic turmoil. Turkey's friends hoped he will not let this 
     moment pass.
                                                                    ____


               [From the Washington Post, July 16, 1997]

                     Turkey's Press: Turkey's Kurds

       It is an irony and an embarrassment that even as NATO 
     imposes high democratic standards on new members, it has 
     given an errant old member, Turkey, a bye. On the litmus 
     issue of imprisoning journalists for what they write, for 
     instance, Turkey is the recognized world champion. The 
     Committee to Protect Journalists, an American defense group, 
     counted 78 jailed Turkish journalists at the beginning of the 
     year. All the more satisfying, then, that the group has not 
     elicited from the new Turkish government of Mesut Yibnaz a 
     commitment to do something about a record that, if a current 
     NATO applicant had it, would exclude it from the West's 
     premier democratic club.
       The trouble lies, of course, in Turkey's continuing 
     conflict with a Kurdish minority that has its pacific 
     assimilationist element but its armed separatist element as 
     well. An official policy giving a long leash to an assertive 
     Turkish military has not only failed to curb Kurdish 
     terrorism but has also cost past governments political 
     support. Journalists who write about Kurdish nationalism from 
     an independent perspective have been at risk of being locked 
     up and censored, harassed and beaten. Article 312 of the 
     Turkish penal code permits reporting and commentary on other 
     than the government line to be punished as ``incitement to 
     racial hatred.''
       The Kurdish problem is as tough as any ethnic conflict 
     anywhere. No one has a good solution in the inflamed 
     circumstances in which it is unfolding now. What is certain, 
     however, is that the problem must be addressed in a context 
     in which the Turkish people are fully and fairly informed 
     about the options before them. This is the prospect now 
     opened up by the Yilmaz government. It speaks for a minority 
     coalition and faces parliamentary resistance to its new free-
     press commitments. But it also has the opportunity to bring 
     Turkey the appreciation rather than the opprobrium of the 
     democratic West. Up to this point, the army has plainly been 
     calling most of the shots on policy toward the Kurds. The 
     army is manifestly unfit for this role and plays it poorly. 
     Opening up the press is no glib civics textbook prescription. 
     It is a practical way for Turkey to build support for a 
     consensus approach.

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman. He is a rookie, I guess we 
would call him, a freshman here, but he has already made his presence 
known in many ways and particularly on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republic of Cyprus needs active United States 
support to attain its goal of membership in the European community. 
This membership would promote stability by permanently linking Cyprus 
to Europe both economically and strategically. Indeed the European 
Parliament has indicated its desire for peace on the island. Cyprus has 
earned its place in the European Union. Now the international community 
must take steps to move the peace process forward.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, Cyprus is ready to become an important 
trading partner with the United States. The Greek Cypriot community is 
a democratic society known for its open and efficient economic system. 
Despite the violent blow dealt by the invasion, the Cypriot economy has 
strongly rebounded to become one of the strongest economies in the 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne].
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for calling this 
special order. I will not take too much time, since I see a number of 
my colleagues, showing the importance of this very vital issue to many 
of us in the Congress on both sides of the aisle from throughout the 
United States of America, because we talk about justice and fairness, 
we talk about the new era that we live in where we say that we will not 
allow the big and the strong to take advantage of the smaller.
  That was the whole question in the Persian Gulf situation when 28 
nations came together to say that the invasion of Kuwait that was 
imminent was wrong and we came together as a united country of the 
world, countries of the world, from the Arab community, from Africa, 
from the West to say that we will protect this little country.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Human Rights 
Subcommittee to join in commemorating this sad day in history of the 
Republic of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 tanks 
landed on the north coast of Cyprus and captured almost 40 percent of 
the island. More than 35,000 Turkish troops continue to occupy the 
northern portion of Cyprus.
  The Green Line, a barbed wire fence, separating the northern part of 
the island from the free portion, is the only wall remaining in the 
world. We brought down the Berlin Wall. We have gone through and have 
sort of new independent countries in Europe. But this wall still 
remains.
  Thousands of Greek Cypriots from the towns and communities in which 
they and their families have previously lived for generations are 
separated from one another. Today there are 1,619 people whose 
whereabouts are still unknown, and we have heard already 5 of these are 
U.S. citizens that we still have not heard about.
  The illegal invasion and occupation by Turkey represents over two 
decades of unanswered questions, human rights violations and cultural 
destruction. As I conclude, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I had 
the opportunity 2 years ago to visit Cyprus. I had the opportunity to 
go with a constituent of mine, Andy Comodomos, where we drove up to the 
Green Line. We were allowed to go up into the Turkish-occupied portion 
of the island where we went to the street that Mr. Comodomos lived on 
and went to the house that he was raised in and then went up the to the 
home of his cousin who lived there.
  We rang the bell and we were allowed to come in by this Turkish 
family who came up from the south to occupy the house. It was 
heartbreaking for him to see his home, his backyard, the basement of 
the home that his family grew up in being occupied illegally by people 
who had illegally taken possession of the home. I speak out with my 
other colleagues here and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
the Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash and Greek Cypriot President Glafcos 
Clerides in their talks and that our new head of the United Nations, 
Kofi Annan, is calling for continued talks. We hope that there will 
finally be a breakthrough.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman. I daresay that probably this 
constituent who was able to get to go to his former home probably had 
not seen it for something like 20, 21 years and would not have been 
able to do that were it not for the fact that he was accompanying the 
gentleman. I appreciate the gentleman's support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], who has been an outstanding 
spokesman and advocate for peace in Cyprus for organizing this special 
order this evening. Today's special order on Cyprus comes on the eve of 
the 23d anniversary of the brutal invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops. 
As we observe this sad anniversary, the international community is 
still confronted with the fact that in excess of 30,000 Turkish 
military personnel still remain on the island to enforce an illegal 
partition and to protect a self-proclaimed government that has been 
recognized by only one other country, Turkey itself.
  Those of us in the Congress who supported the negotiated settlement 
to the dispute which has led to the division of Cyprus are painfully 
aware of the complexities of the issue, of the injustices committed, 
and particularly

[[Page H5461]]

the suffering over these many long years of the Cypriot people on both 
sides of the Green Line.
  Indeed Cyprus has become a code word for stalemate and intractability 
in international diplomacy.
  Just last week there occurred a new and positive development in 
Madrid, on the fringes of the NATO summit. The foreign ministers of 
both Greece and Turkey met together, under the auspices of our own 
government, and agreed on a set of principles to guide the resolution 
of disputes between our two NATO allies. The essential element of the 
statement issued by the foreign ministers in Madrid is that disputes 
between Greece and Turkey are to be settled through peaceful means and 
will be based on the mutual recognition of their legitimate interests. 
While this communique was related specifically to disputes in the 
Aegean, I am hopeful that it is going to inaugurate an era of better 
understanding on the issues that concern both Greece and Turkey, 
including Cyprus itself.
  Although a resolution of the Cyprus problem depends first and 
foremost upon the will of the Cypriot people themselves, regardless of 
their ethnic background, certainly a better relationship between Greece 
and Turkey can play a critical role in helping resolve this vexing 
international dispute.
  It is gratifying that the Clinton administration seems more 
interested than in the past in finding a solution for Cyprus. The 
announcement last month that President Clinton appointed Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy for Cyprus is also promising. If 
Ambassador Holbrooke brings the same energy and determination to Cyprus 
as he brought to ending the conflict in Bosnia, it is hopeful that he 
will be able to convince the Cypriot people to put behind them their 
differences and work out a just and peaceful settlement.

  The shape of a possible settlement is out there. I believe that both 
President Clerides and Mr. Denktash are men who can rise above the 
recent enmity that has developed between the two communities and find a 
way to reunite the island based on mutual good will and confidence.
  We should all encourage these two leaders to make the most of direct 
talks which began in New York just last week and which will soon be 
continuing in Geneva. Old history and grievances must be placed behind 
us as we seek to resolve the division of Cyprus. Let us hope that both 
sides will reach within themselves to find the resolve to settle this 
persistent problem.
  The Greek Cypriots have demonstrated flexibility and the spirit of 
compromise in recent rounds of U.N.-sponsored talks. We now call upon 
Mr. Denktash to demonstrate this same kind of flexibility. Twenty-three 
years is too long a time. There are now young people coming of age in 
Cyprus who know nothing other than the experience of living on a 
divided island and a divided society.

                              {time}  1715

  For this next generation what can be done to guide them in learning 
to accept life with a neighboring but different culture? Time is 
running out for the possibility of achieving a peaceful settlement, and 
the people of Cyprus now have to ask themselves if the enmity between 
the two communities is truly worth the price of a divided nation.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman who for years and 
years has done the best he possibly could to try to resolve this 
problem.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] 
at this point.
  Mr. PALLONE. I want to begin as I do every year by thanking the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for organizing this special 
order. It has now been 23 years since Turkey invaded Cyprus, and I 
deeply appreciate the opportunity to join the gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Bilirakis] and the other cochair of our Congressional Caucus on 
Hellenic Issues, the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney] in 
keeping this issue in the spotlight.
  For almost a quarter of a century now the people of Cyprus have lived 
on a divided, militarized, and occupied island, and the facts of the 
situation are well known. I do not want to spend time tonight 
revisiting them, but I do believe there are important developments on 
the Cyprus issue that I want to spend the bulk of my time addressing, 
and I do want to say to those who were murdered during the Turkish 
invasion and to the 1,619 people who have never been accounted for, 5 
of whom are American, that you are not forgotten. Those who have lived 
through the nightmare of the last 23 years and those who have never 
known freedom in their lifetime, I want you to know that you have many 
allies in the U.S. Congress who are determined to see you govern every 
inch of your own country.
  On July 9, this year, as was mentioned by some of my colleagues, 
these high-level negotiations between some of the key principals 
involved, once again got underway at the invitation of the Secretary 
General, the President of Cyprus, and the Turkish-Cypriot leader. They 
met face to face for the first time in 3 years, and I just want to say 
this is certainly a very positive development, as my colleagues have 
said, as was the joint statement which was released by Greece and 
Turkey the day before the talks in New York in which the two countries 
vowed to settle disputes by peaceful means, based on mutual consent, 
and without use of force or threat of force.
  But before I discuss the current peace process in further detail, I 
wanted to draw attention to an unfortunate display of provocation by 
the Turkish government. Two days ago Turkey's Vice Prime Minister, who 
was the Prime Minister when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, announced 
that he is going to visit the Turkish occupied area of Northern Cyprus 
on July 19, and the stated purpose of his visit is to congratulate the 
Turkish military for its invasion in 1974 and celebrate the subsequent 
occupation which is today enforced by some 35,000 Turkish troops.
  So while we are here today honoring the memory of those who were 
murdered and never accounted for as a result of this Turkish aggression 
and even as the Greeks and Cypriots around the world prepare to do the 
same, the Turks are planning celebrations and slapping themselves on 
the back to commemorate these 23 years of brutality.
  Mr. Speaker, I am outraged by this behavior, and I know the Cypriot 
people are as well. Yesterday I had the honor of personally meeting 
with the Cypriot Ambassador who conveyed to me his disappointment in 
this uncalled for provocation.
  And I think the Vice Prime Minister's visit is deserving for another 
reason that we mentioned, that Ankara and Athens are releasing a joint 
statement vowing to settle their disputes peacefully. I mean the 
purpose of this statement one would presume was to set a good tone for 
settlement negotiations. But the Vice Prime Minister's visit to 
Northern Cyprus really belies Ankara's intent to negotiate in good 
faith, and I think it is really a deliberate provocation and needs to 
be brought to my colleagues' attention.
  It also serves to reinforce the Congress' belief, this Congress' 
belief, that there are several aspects regarding the U.S. position that 
I think need to be addressed and reaffirmed as these negotiations get 
underway. I would just like to state those briefly.
  As everyone is aware by now, President Clinton recently signaled his 
commitment to resolving the Cyprus problem by appointing Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke, who was the architect of the Dayton Accords, and he 
is now the special emissary to Cyprus and his record of service has 
been mentioned by my colleagues, and, I think, the President should be 
congratulated for signaling his interest in the Cyprus issue through 
this appointment. But there was some concern following Ambassador 
Holbrooke's appointment that he might use the Dayton Accords as a model 
for the situation in Cyprus. To his credit, Ambassador Holbrooke has 
stated he does not intend to do such a thing and I want to commend him 
for that statement.
  And I just wanted to say and reiterate that the Dayton Accords are 
not applicable to Cyprus. The roots and causes of the Cyprus problem 
are without question very different from those of the conflict that 
began in Bosnia in 1992. The Cyprus situation is a matter of illegal 
invasion and occupation of a foreign power. By contrast, the conflict 
in Bosnia was primarily ethnic in nature.

[[Page H5462]]

  Accordingly, any solution to the situation in Cyprus must reflect the 
circumstances that are unique to the Cyprus problem's origin, and this 
problem is clearly one of illegal invasion and occupation.
  There are a number of conditions. I think the United States must 
pressure the Turkish Government to accept conditions that the Cypriot 
and Greek Governments and certainly all of us here tonight consider 
nonnegotiable, and these are first, with regard to the issue of 
sovereignty: Any solution reached must be consistent with U.N. 
Resolution 750 of 1992, which states a Cyprus settlement must be based 
on the State of Cyprus with a single a sovereignty and international 
personality and a single citizenship with its independence and 
territorial integrity safeguarded. Relatedly, any overall settlement 
must be consistent with all U.N. resolutions on the Cyprus issue.
  To facilitate the goal of the State of Cyprus with a single 
sovereignty, the United States should push for the establishment of a 
federation with two federated States, one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish 
Cypriot administered by a federal government. In other words, the 
United States should support the establishment of a constitutional 
democracy much like our own where the States receive their powers from 
the Federal Government. A rotating presidency under separate 
sovereignties for the Greek and Turkish communities should be viewed as 
completely unacceptable.
  Second, any solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on 
internationally accepted standards of human rights. Simply stated, all 
Cypriots must be guaranteed the three basic freedoms: freedom of 
movement, property, and settlement.
  And third, all foreign troops should be withdrawn from the island. In 
1994, President Clerides proposed the demilitarization of the island as 
a precursor to meaningful negotiations, an offer which has to date been 
met with nothing but derision from Turkey. In 1995, the House went on 
record in support of this peaceful gesture when it passed the Cyprus 
Demilitarization Act, and I believe, and most informed observers of the 
Cyprus situation agree, that no progress can be made until Ankara 
withdraws its illegal occupying force.

  I just want to stress again, Mr. Speaker, as I did earlier, that the 
Cyprus situation is one of illegal occupation of a sovereign country by 
a foreign power. The United States therefore must use its influence to 
facilitate the removal of the Turkish occupying force in the 
introduction of NATO or U.N. peacekeeping forces, if necessary, so 
negotiations can begin in earnest.
  And just in conclusion, while these issues do not represent a 
comprehensive list of concerns, they are, in my opinion, most 
important. Other matters the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] 
mentioned, such as the Cypriot accession to the European Union, have to 
be pursued. Integrating Cyprus into the framework of the European Union 
would demonstrate unequivocally to Turkey that its only real option is 
to accept a sovereign, independent Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say that obviously the United States 
should embrace the opportunity to make progress, but we must not reach 
an agreement just for the sake of reaching an agreement. It is tragic 
that Cyprus has been divided for 23 years, but we would have to wait as 
long as we must to bring true and lasting freedom to the Cypriot 
people.
  Again I want to thank my colleague from Florida. I know he believes 
very sincerely in this. He has been doing this for many years, and when 
this finally is resolved a lot of the reason for it, a lot of the 
reason why the U.S. Government is now more concerned and the President 
is more concerned, is because of the efforts of Mr. Bilirakis and the 
Hellenic Caucus.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for those kind 
remarks and thank him for consistently year in and year out joining me 
in this special order, and if I were not leading this, I dare say he 
probably would be or certainly would still be just as much involved.
  Mr. Speaker, in the past, our Nation has pledged its support to 
developing free, market democracies. The United States should consider 
offering trade incentives to Cyprus to allow the manufacturing sector 
to increase, the labor market to improve, and the infrastructure to 
modernize.
  I also welcome efforts in Congress to maintain the traditional $15 
million earmarked for Cyprus. This money funds projects aimed at 
reunification and reducing tensions between the two communities on 
Cyprus. I pledge my total support to building a strong trade 
relationship between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus. The 
continued growth of their economy will provide for a more stable 
country, which is a key ingredient in the peace process.
  Mr. Speaker, the island has seen a tremendous amount of growth over 
the years mostly from tourism. However, the heart of Cyprus' potential 
growth has yet to be tapped. Hundreds of international firms recognize 
that the island's $15,000 per capita gross domestic product and the 
high education level of its people make Cyprus an ideal location for 
their regional headquarters.
  In stark contrast, and I really, I just hesitate to mention it 
because I do not mean to be throwing stones, but the per capita gross 
domestic product in the Turkish-occupied region is a mere $3,500. There 
is also a significantly higher crime rate in the Turkish portion of the 
island.
  I yield at this time to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Kelly].
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in 
marking the tragic events that occurred 23 years ago on the island of 
Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, the Government of Turkey sent troops to 
Cyprus and forcibly assumed control of more than one-third of that 
island. The action dislocated much of the Greek Cypriot population 
creating a refugee problem that exists to this day.
  Just think about it, children who are born 23 years ago, are old 
enough to have families of their own today. Additionally, over 1,600 
Greek Cypriots are missing. They are still unaccounted for as a result 
of this invasion. The children who were born may not have known their 
own families.
  While in the past the Turkish Cypriot community was unwilling to work 
toward an agreement, I am pleased that both sides have come together in 
my congressional district to hold their first round of talks in Amenia, 
NY. It is clear to me that the clean air and beautiful countryside of 
Amenia has assisted immeasurably in laying a strong foundation for 
these negotiations since both sides have agreed to continue these talks 
in Geneva on August 11.
  The talks are the first step in a long process that will hopefully 
lead to a consensus agreement for lasting peace. It is my hope that an 
agreement will include the removal of the roughly 35,000 Turkish troops 
from the island of Cyprus and the return of 180,000 Greek Cypriots to 
the homes that they fled in 1973. We have heard about the anguish that 
those Cypriots feel when they know that there are other people 
occupying those homes.
  I want to applaud the willingness of the Greek Cypriots in 
demonstrating their continued commitment to compromise in order to 
bring an end to this longstanding dispute and also to Rauf Denktash, 
the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a State 
recognized only by Turkey for making the right move toward the peace 
table.
  While the past efforts have failed to produce any movement toward an 
agreement, we continue to pray that these talks will bear fruit so that 
all the people of Cyprus will know the sweet taste of freedom and a 
lasting peace. While the talks continue, the U.S. Government has to let 
our position be heard loud and clear by all interested parties to show 
we are serious about achieving a lasting peace in Cyprus. In this 
regard, I am pleased to be a cosponsor to the House Concurrent 
Resolution 81, the concurrent resolution calling for the United States 
initiative seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in 
Cyprus.
  Additionally, I am going to continue to support legislation in 
Congress to cut economic support funds and military assistance to 
Turkey until it withdraws its troops from Cyprus, lifts its blockade of 
Armenia and makes progress on extending political and economic rights 
to its Kurdish minorities.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. Speaker, it is with decisive steps such as these that we can 
begin to hope

[[Page H5463]]

for a brighter future for Cyprus. I wish to commend the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for his steadfast work in this area. I look 
forward to working with him and all of my colleagues who share our 
concerns to achieve a unified and peaceful Cyprus for the future. The 
talks are a long step toward the peace process that we hope will lead 
to a consensus agreement for lasting peace. I think it is very 
important that we get that.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for taking the 
time to come over to join us on this special order, and for hosting 
those two gentlemen during those important talks.
  I yield to the other gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez], who 
also has visited the island.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. First of all I want 
to recognize and commend the gentleman for keeping this issue before 
the Congress of the United States, and for that matter, before the 
American people, and for organizing this special order.
  We do hope there will be a point in time in which this special order 
will truly be just a commemoration and not a further quest and search 
for peace and justice in Cyprus. The gentleman has been an outstanding 
advocate in this respect, and we commend him.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as a member of the Committee on International 
Relations and as a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus to 
join in the commemoration of that unhappy anniversary and tragic 
circumstances of 23 years, over two decades, of the division of the 
island of Cyprus. It seems incredible, but for 23 years now the 
Republic of Cyprus has been artificially divided following an illegal 
invasion by Turkish troops on July 20, 1974.
  On that date over 200,000 Greek Cypriots became refugees in their own 
country and to this day are denied the right to return to their homes. 
Today a full 37 percent of the island remains under occupation by 
Turkish troops, which in defiance of U.N. resolutions, now number over 
35,000. This makes Cyprus one of the most militarized places in the 
world.
  I saw that fact firsthand as I traveled with my constituents from New 
Jersey, the Zambas family, to Cyprus, crossed the green line, which is 
the division between northern Cyprus and the rest of the country, to 
the occupied territory to an area called Brastio-Morphu. Clearly to me 
the militarization was so, so obvious in the process of that visit.
  But also what was obvious is that when Turkish Cypriots, those who 
lived on the island, not those who have been imported from Anatolia but 
those who live on the island, are given an opportunity to intermingle 
with Greek Cypriots, that there is the opportunity for coexistence and 
coalescence. That became clear to me in the conversation between my 
constituents and the Turkish Cypriots who had lived there before the 
invasion. They were willing to talk to each other. Only the people who 
were escorting us, the security forces, refused to let them speak to 
each other. As an example of that, it is those who occupy the north 
that create this division.
  We remember the over 1,619 Greek Cypriots and 5 American citizens who 
are still missing as a result of the military operations in 1974. 
Sadly, we also commemorate this year the deaths of three civilians last 
summer, two who died from the bullets of Turkish soldiers, they were 
unarmed, they were simply along the green line, and the other at the 
hands of a mob of Turkish thugs.
  These actions are nothing but barbaric and should be addressed in 
that way, which is why I was happy to join many of my colleagues at the 
United Nations in condemning those barbaric actions. Those are not the 
actions that a civilized country takes. It is not the actions that a 
country for which we give aid takes against other individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, the comments of the former Prime Minister, Prime 
Minister Tansu Ciller, that we will break the hands of those raised 
against us, signify, contrary to Turkey's stated position, that in fact 
they consider northern Cyprus Turkey's domain. So after 23 years, the 
people of Cyprus in both communities deserve a solution which will 
reunite the island, its communities, and its people.
  For too long the Cyprus problem has been a source of tension and 
instability in an important area of the world. My colleague, the 
gentleman from Florida, has a map that very well describes that part of 
the world and the importance of what is happening in the Aegean. Even 
our Secretary of State Madeleine Albright recently pointed out ``U.S. 
Cyprus relations extend far beyond, far beyond the so-called Cyprus 
problem. Cyprus is a valued partner against new global threats.''
  I think that is why we in the Congress are engaged in this issue. A 
resolution would strengthen peace and stability in the volatile eastern 
Mediterranean and significantly advance the United States national 
security interests in the region and beyond. It is in the United States 
national interest to see such a solution. Cyprus is a bridge between 
East and West. It is a bulkhead in the sea of Islamic fundamentalism. 
Its solution would ease the tensions between two very important NATO 
allies.
  President Clinton's appointment of Richard Holbrooke as his Special 
Emissary on Cyprus has us all refocused again on the attention to a 
resolution to the Cyprus problem at a crucial time. Last week I was 
proud to circulate and send a letter, and I know that my colleague, the 
gentleman from Florida and others, joined with me in a letter signed by 
67 of our colleagues in the House to President Clinton outlining what 
we believe should be the parameters of any Cyprus solution.
  Those parameters are basically those that have been recognized I 
think by the international community through U.N. resolutions, but 
specifically they are that Cyprus should be reunited with a strong 
federal government in which the federated states derive their powers 
from a federal constitution, a democratic constitution which would 
ensure the rights of all citizens and all communities, and which would 
guarantee the right to private property and free travel to all parts of 
the country.
  We have heard much about the Greek Cypriots' willingness to 
compromise, and they have, time and time again. But there are 
limitations. Turkey must not be allowed to derail once again the 
tremendous opportunity for peace that exists on the island. While 
Turkey has verbally committed itself at appropriate moments during 
these years to pursue better relations with its neighbors, its actions, 
however, not what it says but what it does, its actions demonstrate a 
consistent pattern of hostility and unwillingness.
  Even the former U.N. Secretary General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, said 
so in a report on Cyprus. So if Turkey is serious about its commitment 
to a permanent solution, then it must bring its views into conformity 
with the U.N. framework on issues of sovereignty and political 
equality.
  In conclusion, I want to say that Cyprus will not be a prisoner to 
Turkey's objections or threats. It will not postpone and it should not 
postpone its well-deserved entry into the European Union over Turkish 
objections. If European integration is good for Turkey, then it must be 
good for all of the Cypriot people.

  The world must know that in this small Mediterranean island of 
Cyprus, there are people filled with hope and expectation that this is 
the moment in which their divided homeland can once and for all be 
reunited in accordance with international expectations. We cannot rest 
until the last boot of the last Turkish soldier leaves Cyprus, until a 
divided country is reunited, until the last divided city of the world, 
Nicosia, is rejoined, until peace and justice become a reality for all 
of its citizens, Greeks and Turks alike.
  I again commend the distinguished gentleman from Florida [Mr. 
Bilirakis] for keeping this before the American people, before 
Congress, and forging ahead.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman so much for helping in that 
regard, and for his energy and support for this cause over the years.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
McGovern], who is also one of our freshmen, but very much interested in 
this subject.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. 
I rise to join my distinguished colleague from Florida and all those 
who acknowledge today this sad date in the

[[Page H5464]]

history of Cyprus. I rise to add my name to the long list of Members of 
Congress who throughout the past 23 years have decried Turkey's brutal 
invasion of this Mediterranean island.
  After 23 years some might be tempted to throw in the towel, to 
believe that these 23 years of Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus 
prove the helplessness of the international community in the face of 
ethnic strife and injustice. Some might even say that our yearly 
acknowledgment of this tragic event are wasted words.
  I say that now more than ever we need to voice our resolve, our 
ongoing commitment to build a lasting peace for all the people of 
Cyprus. As we have witnessed in so many parts of the world, peace-
building does not happen overnight. It requires hard work, vigilance, 
and the very resolve that we have maintained over the years and that 
will help us undo Turkish wrongdoing in Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot let our determination falter. To do so would 
be to allow the persistence of injustice, and equally as important, 
harm our own interests. Ethnic conflicts, as those in central Africa 
have so dramatically shown us, tend to spill over and threaten the 
stability of entire regions, and threatening markets for American 
business overseas.
  The Republic of Cyprus has worked to develop a stable economy and an 
important economic role for itself in the Mediterranean and Europe. It 
attracts millions of tourists to its shores annually, and also serves 
as an economic focal point for the entire eastern Mediterranean region. 
Furthermore, the Republic of Cyprus is one of the few countries that 
has met the tough economic criteria of the Maastricht agreement, 
indicating its promise as a future actor in European economies.
  Yet, can there be real economic stability when 160,000 Greek Cypriots 
remain displaced and away from their rightful homes? Can there be real 
economic stability when 35,000 Turkish troops threaten security in the 
Republic of Cyprus? Can there be real economic stability when the 
northern half of Cyprus languishes in economic and political isolation 
under a neo-totalitarian regime?
  It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that much work remains to be done to 
guarantee the health of the Cypriot economy and our own interests in 
the region. This work begins right here in Congress. We Members must 
follow the lead of our Representatives, like the gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Bilirakis], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Hamilton], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel], and the gentlewoman 
from New York [Mrs. Maloney] in their efforts on behalf of Cyprus.
  I pledge my support for the resolution they have introduced, House 
Concurrent Resolution 81. Further, I urge my colleagues to ensure that 
the foreign aid appropriations bill that we submit to the President 
will include the $15 million earmark to help Cyprus in these critical 
times.
  Congressional actions, however, are not the only means to complete 
the work of building a lasting peace in Cyprus. This month's U.N.-
sponsored peace talks in New York between Greek and Turkish Cypriots 
have shown that the international community shares our determination 
for peace. The European Union, in selecting Cyprus as one of its next 
members, has especially proven their commitment to progress. 
Furthermore, the Clinton administration has taken an energetic and more 
direct approach to the Cyprus issue, and their efforts clearly 
contributed to the spirit of optimism emerging from this month's U.N. 
talks.
  I further commend the administration's appointment of Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke as Special Emissary for Cyprus. The Ambassador will 
be an important instrument for us to bring about change, most notably, 
in the following areas.
  First of all, human rights. Ambassador Holbrooke should be aware of 
our objections to Turkey's deprivation of Greek Cypriot possessions, 
its discrimination against the Greek Cypriot community in Northern 
Cyprus, its restrictions of liberties in the form of curfews for Greek 
Cypriots, its confinement of 2,000 Greek Cypriots in detention centers, 
its imprisonment of Greek Cypriots in Turkey, and finally, its 
repression of legal recourse for Greek Cypriots living in the occupied 
areas.
  Second, Cypriot unity. We must urge the Ambassador to work for a 
unified Cyprus, supported by a constitution that provides for 
proportionate and equitable participation of both Greek and Turkish 
Cypriots.
  Finally, missing persons. We will not abandon the American citizens 
who count among the 1,619 people who disappeared following the Turkish 
invasion of 1974. With the continued resolve of Congress, the help of 
the administration, the cooperation of our European U.N. partners, we 
will succeed in ending a status quo that fractures Cypriot society and 
stifles democracy and justice for the people of Northern Cyprus. In 
doing so, our strategic, economic, and humanitarian interests will be 
well served.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for his 
leadership on this issue, which has been steadfast over the years. When 
I was a congressional aide here working for the gentleman from 
Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley], I was well aware of all of his efforts, 
and I appreciate his letting me be part of this special order.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments 
and support.
  The division of Cyprus, Mr. Speaker, is perhaps most obvious in the 
divided capital city of Nicosia, located here on a map about in the 
international center of the island, a city which after the collapse of 
the Berlin Wall is the last truly divided city in the world. At 
checkpoints across the city, armed guards stare at each other across an 
uneasy no man's land. In the center of the city, bullet holes scar 
buildings and serve as a powerful reminder of the events of 1974.

                              {time}  1745

  It is no wonder that the people of Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish, 
are ready for peace. Nese Yahsin, a Turkish Cypriot poet, was recently 
featured in the Christian Science Monitor. Her poem ``Which Half?'' 
captures the spirit of the two people. ``Which Half?'' is the name of 
her poem.
  She writes:

     ``They say a person should love their homeland,
     that's also what my father often says.
     My homeland has been divided in two,
     which of the two pieces should I love?''

  I find it symbolic that a popular Greek Cypriot composer, Marios 
Tokas, put this simple four-line verse to music which is often sung by 
Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
  Even with the animosity and intercommunity conflict, the divided 
people of Cyprus have made progress toward bicommunal living. Recently 
several thousand young Cypriots from both communities were able to come 
together for the first time in over 23 years for a U.N.-sponsored pop 
concert. Despite much protest, the concert was successful and Cypriots 
from both sides of the island took one step closer to bi-communal 
harmony.
  A couple of years ago I led a delegation over the green line to 
Famagusta, located here, Kyrenia, located up here, and to the tip of 
Karpassas, the area of the enclaved Cypriots. Sadly, this line not only 
divides a nation but people as well. In order for Cypriots living in 
the occupied zone to visit the southern side of the island, they must 
first fly to Ankara, Turkey, then to Athens, Greece, and then to the 
unoccupied portion of the island. In contrast, a trip between the 
occupied ghost town of Famagusta, where I have had relatives who are 
displaced, and the thriving holiday resort of Protoras, which is just 
below the line, would only take a matter of minutes by car.
  However, I believe that the tide may be changing and unity in the 
island of Cyprus is a real possibility. Just last week, Greek and 
Turkish leaders pledged to overcome decades of tension and threats of 
war by agreeing to respect each other and settle disputes by peaceful 
means. I am hopeful that the United States appointment of Richard 
Holbrooke, as others have said, as special envoy to Cyprus will 
accelerate the peace process.
  Mr. Holbrooke's appointment was well received in Cyprus, Greece, and 
especially in Turkey. Perhaps, because of his experience and respect in 
the international community, he will be in a better position than his 
predecessors to negotiate with the Turkish Government. It seems rather 
odd, though, doesn't it,

[[Page H5465]]

to be negotiating for land wrongfully taken in an illegal invasion and 
recognized by only one country on Earth?
  The United States must re-examine its goals and interests in the 
region. We must send a strong message to all parties involved--that a 
divided Cyprus is unacceptable. Furthermore, Congress must send a 
message to Turkey stressing our commitment to finding a lasting peace 
on the island of Cyprus. In fact, I am an original cosponsor of House 
Concurrent Resolution 81, which reaffirms that the status quo on Cyprus 
is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude on a note of urgency. Now is 
the time to take the next step in the Cyprus peace process. Cyprus, 
Greece, Turkey, and the United States are finally coming together this 
month in New York to discuss their respective issues. Moreover, Greece 
and Turkey, with strong pressure from the United States, recently 
announced their intentions to settle all disputes in a peaceful manner.
  However, once the peace process begins, we should only move forward. 
We must insist that the United States serve as a constructive 
participant in the peace settlement in order to ensure a just and 
lasting solution.
  As Members of Congress, we must do everything possible to encourage 
this peace process. It is only through this process that we will 
achieve our ultimate goal--to reunite the people and the island of 
Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. Sherman].
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I 
appreciate the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from Florida on 
this issue. I want to associate myself with the comments that have come 
earlier.
  Those who are watching us have heard the sad story of how this island 
was divided by force from an invasion of a foreign army 23 years ago 
today. They have heard how there are nearly 200,000 refugees, over 
1,600 missing persons, 5 of them U.S. citizens. Nicosia is today, as 
the gentleman from Florida pointed out, the only truly divided city and 
only divided capital in the world.
  A few years ago the most famous divided city was Berlin. President 
Ronald Reagan said, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' It is time 
for Americans to turn to Mr. Yilmaz and say, ``Mr. Yilmaz, tear down 
this wall. Unite this island. Unite the city of Nicosia.''
  I do want to bring to the attention of my colleagues renewed interest 
in the State Department and the Defense Department to transferring 
several frigates to the Turkish Navy. This is something that should not 
be done without a lot of pause and a lot of consideration. There are 
those that say that we should help the Turkish military because it 
confronts Iran and Iraq, but I would ask, in an effort to contain Iran 
and Iraq, where will the Turkish Navy deploy the frigates? The last 
oceangoing vessel seen in eastern Anatolia was Noah's ark.
  These frigates ought to be viewed as an expansion of the Turkish 
Navy. The people of Cyprus are familiar with that organization's work, 
and these frigates should not be transferred without an awful lot of 
careful consideration, both in the administration and here on Capitol 
Hill.
  We are all happy to see Mr. Holbrooke given the responsibility and 
the mission of trying to bring peace and unity to Cyprus. Now, on the 
23d anniversary of a terrible division and illegal invasion, we call 
for the demilitarization of Cyprus and peace and unity on that island.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in 
commemorating the somber anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus 
on July 20, 1974. I would like to thank Congressman Bilirakis for 
holding this special order.
  In the 23 years since the invasion of the Sovereign State of Cyprus, 
Turkey has illegally occupied 40 percent of the island, maintaining 
35,000 troops and installing 80,000 colonists in properties seized from 
Greek Cypriot refugees who have lived there for many generations. As a 
result of this human tragedy, 200,000 displaced persons have lost their 
homes and livelihood, another 1,619, including 5 American citizens 
remain unaccounted for and several thousand have lost their lives. The 
enclaved people who remained in northern Cyprus are denied basic human 
rights such as freedom of movement, access to education, religious 
freedom or political rights. Today the ``Green Line'' separating the 
Greek and Turkish portions of the island stands as a testament to this 
ethnic cleansing.
  My colleagues and I have called and will continue to call for a just 
and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem that will reunify the land 
and its people. In House Resolution 81, recently reported from the 
House International Relations Committee, we called for the withdrawal 
of Turkish troops and an early substantive initiative toward a 
resolution. We welcome the recent diplomatic efforts with the 
appointment of Richard Holbrooke as a Special Emissary for Cyprus and 
the heightened attention given to this issue by the President. The 
proximity talks concluded in Troutbeck under the auspices of the U.N. 
Secretary General and upcoming rounds of negotiations represent a 
critical window of opportunity for a peaceful resolution of this 
conflict. As we have stressed to the President and the parties to the 
conflict, such a resolution must be based on international law, 
democratic principles and respect for human rights, property rights and 
freedom of movement.
  The resolution of this conflict and the prompt accession of Cyprus to 
the European Union will guarantee the extension of democratic 
principles and the rule of law in Cyprus and contribute to the 
stability of this region, which is critical to our national security 
interests.
  Let the 23d anniversary of the invasion be the last time we 
commemorate this tragic event. I hope that next year we gather to mark 
the first anniversary of the reunification of Cyprus and the conclusion 
of this tragic chapter in the long and rich history of the Cypriot 
people.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida for organizing this special order 
on Cyprus. Mike Bilirakis has truly been a tireless champion for the 
peaceful resolution of the Cypriot problem.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues this afternoon in observing the 23d 
anniversary of Turkey's illegal invasion and continued occupation of 
the island of Cyprus. On July 20, 1974, Turkey unleashed its army on 
the Cypriot people. Turkey's violent and bloody invasion of this 
Mediterranean Island State has been rightfully condemned by the United 
Nations and all peace loving nations of the world.
  I would like to applaud Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's 
recent statement to Cyprus' Foreign Minister Loanis Kasoulides when she 
said, ``What we seek is the reunification of Cyprus. We believe that 
the division of the island is unacceptable.'' It is clearly in American 
national security interests to seek a peaceful settlement to this 
problem. I would also like to commend President Clinton's decision to 
appoint ambassador Richard Holbrooke as the U.S. Special Emissary to 
promote a Cyprus settlement. Ambassador Holbrooke is eminently 
qualified to meet this new diplomatic challenge.
  Mr. Speaker, the 23d anniversary of this brutal invasion should weigh 
heavily on the conscience of all civilized people of the world who 
share in the belief that states must eschew the destructive path of 
naked aggression and abide by the rules of international law. It is 
time for the world to tell Turkey that the status quo in Cyprus is 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, the status quo must be broken. The paralysis in U.N. 
sponsored negotiations must be broken. And the intercommunal strife 
that has torn Cypriots apart must be settled peacefully. But none of 
these worthy objectives can occur as long as Turkey continues to 
violate international law and flout U.N. resolutions condemning its 
oppressive occupation of one-third of Cypriot territory.
  It is indeed a sad testament to the intransigence of Turkey's 
position that 23 years after its invasion of northern Cyprus, it still 
maintains 35,000 troops on the island. The Ankara government must come 
to the realization that its troops in northern Cyprus stand as an 
obstacle to a just and permanent resolution of the Cypriot problem.
  President Glafcos Clerides deserves to be commended for his honesty, 
flexibility and good faith efforts to broach the divide that needlessly 
separates Greek Cypriots from Turkish Cypriots. President Clerides 
statesmanlike position is a far cry from the inflexibility reflected by 
Turkish Cypriot Leader Mr. Denktash.
  Mr. Speaker, any permanent resolution to this issue must take into 
consideration the anxieties and legitimate concerns of both Greek 
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. However, the first step toward 
reconciliation and reunification must be the end of Turkey's illegal 
occupation of northern Cyprus.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, we come to the floor today, as we have many 
times before, to commemorate the sad anniversary of the division of 
Cyprus. I want to commend my friend and colleague from Florida for 
initiating this annual special order, and express my deep regret that 
it is again necessary for us to come together to mark this occasion.
  The history of this conflict, marked by strong feelings and a 
lingering threat of violence, speaks to the difficulty of finding a 
permanent solution. Over 1,600 Greek Cypriots and 5 Americans are among 
those who remain missing 23 years after the invasion. A generation of 
Cypriots on both sides of the green line has

[[Page H5466]]

grown up knowing only division, hate and mistrust. Over 35,000 heavily 
armed Turkish troops continue to occupy the upper one-third of this 
beautiful country, despite the fact that this military occupation is 
recognized to be illegal and in violation of numerous U.N. resolutions. 
Turkish Cypriots are being displaced in their own homeland by settlers 
from Turkey who do not share their Cypriot culture. While the military 
division of the island has been a tragedy the world has long 
recognized, the economic divergence between the two communities which 
is currently taking place not threatens the future of the island in a 
different way.
  Since I stood here on this date a year ago, the Clinton 
administration and the international community have made strong 
statements about their resolve to find a solution to the Cyprus 
problem. Earlier this year, we heard from the Clinton administration 
that there would be a big push on Cyprus this year. But we are over 
half-way through 1997 and a Cyprus solution still seems a distant 
reality. We appoint envoys and we talk about what needs to be done to 
bring peace and unity to this tiny Mediterranean country, but when it 
comes time to deal with hard issues, we have no will to take a tough 
stand against aggression and in favor of international law. The Cyprus 
problem has been reviewed at least 150 times during the past 23 years 
to no avail. We cannot let the 151st effort meet the same fate.
  I must say, however, that this year I have some hope that this will 
be the last time that we have to raise this issue in the context a 
continuing occupation of over one-third of Cyprus' territory by Turkish 
troops. The recent appointment of Richard Holbrooke to mediate a 
permanent solution to this long-running problem indicates a higher 
level of attention to this issue than we have seen in recent years, and 
I am hopeful that this interest on the part of the U.S. Government will 
translate to a greater commitment among the parties to resolve the 
issues which keep them divided. I know Mr. Holbrooke's abilities are 
formidable, and it will take all of his diplomatic skills to reach a 
just solution. I wish him well and urge him to seek a lasting 
resolution, and not just a quick fix that cannot be sustained. I am 
also cautiously optimistic about the U.N. initiative that is currently 
underway, and the encouraging signals that have come out of last 
weekend's session in New York.

  For Cypriots to have a prosperous and secure future, the Turkish 
troops must leave, enabling Cyprus to once again be whole. Talks are 
scheduled to begin in 1998 regarding Cyprus' entry into the European 
Union, and this impending event will be a catalyst for Greek and 
Turkish Cypriots of goodwill to find a lasting peace and reunite a 
divided country. I would urge the administration to raise this issue at 
the highest levels. I also urge our military officials to talk directly 
with their counterparts in the Turkish military and encourage them to 
begin withdrawing the troops as a first step toward unification.
  Obviously, Mr. Speaker, our country cannot and, in fact, should not 
involve itself in the negotiations themselves--the parties must resolve 
this problem themselves. But we can and should do everything possible 
to establish an environment in which agreement can take place.
  Twenty-two years is too long to see a divided island and divided 
people. It is my deepest hope, that the next special order on Cyprus 
will be to commemorate and celebrate a new found lasting peace and 
unity in Cyprus.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 
the 23d anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The 
continued presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus is a gross violation of 
human rights and international law.
  Fortunately, since the last anniversary of this tragic event, 
significant and commendable progress has been made toward a peaceful 
resolution. Foreign Minister of Greece, Theodoros Pangalos, and Foreign 
Minister of Turkey, Ismail Cem, have made a nonaggression pact. 
Furthermore, the President of Cyprus, Glafkos Clirides, and the Turkish 
Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, met in a first round of United Nations 
talks. A second round is scheduled for next month.
  The United States has also contributed to the region's efforts to 
reach a settlement. Richard Holbrooke has been appointed U.S. Special 
Envoy to Cyprus and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was 
involved in mediating the nonaggression pact between Greece and Turkey. 
Furthermore, I am pleased with the success that my colleague, 
Representative Bilirakis, and I had in the formation of the 
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. Only 1 year old, the 62 member 
caucus has played a leading role in ending the U.S. sale of Seahawk 
helicopters to Turkey.
  The invasion of Cyprus by Turkey was an outrageous show of 
inhumanity. We must remember that 200,000 Greek Cypriots were expelled 
from their homes and that 1,614 Greek Cypriots and 5 Americans were 
seized by Turkish troops and remain unaccounted for to this day. And, 
consistent with the dictates of human decency, we must strive to reach 
a peaceful, fair solution without delay.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise with me in commemoration 
of the 23d anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus. Many of my own 
constituents in Astoria, Queens, continue to suffer as they wait for 
more information on the fate of their relatives. I am hopeful that a 
resolution will soon be reached and the pain caused by this inhumane 
invasion will be alleviated. Thank you.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my distinguished colleague 
from Florida, Mr. Mike Bilirakis and all those who acknowledge today 
this sad date in the history of Cyprus. I rise to add my name to the 
long list of Members of Congress who throughout the past 23 years have 
decried Turkey's brutal invasion of this Mediterranean island.
  After 23 years, some might be tempted to throw in the towel, to 
believe that these 23 years of Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus 
prove the helplessness of the international community in the face of 
ethnic strife and injustice. Some might even say that our yearly 
acknowledgement of this tragic event are wasted words. I say that now 
more than ever, we need to voice our resolve, our ongoing commitment to 
building a lasting peace for all the people of Cyprus. As we've 
witnessed in so many parts of the world, peace building does not happen 
overnight--it requires hard work, vigilance, and the very resolve that 
we've maintained over the years and that will help us undo Turkey's 
wrongdoing in Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot let our determination falter. To do so would 
allow the persistence of injustice, and, equally as important, harm our 
own interests. Ethnic conflicts, as Central Africa has so dramatically 
shown us, tend to spill over borders, compromising the stability of 
entire regions, and threatening markets for American business overseas. 
The Republic of Cyprus has worked to develop a stable economy and an 
important economic role for itself in the Mediterranean and Europe. It 
attracts millions of tourists to its shores annually, and also serves 
as an economic focal point for the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. 
Furthermore, the Republic of Cyprus is one of the few countries that 
has met the tough economic criteria of the Maastricht agreement, 
indicating its promise as a future actor in European economics.
  Yet, can there be real economic stability when 160,000 Greek Cypriots 
remain displaced and away from their rightful homes? Can there be real 
economic stability when 35,000 Turkish troops threaten the security of 
the Republic of Cyprus? Can there be real economic stability when the 
northern half of Cyprus languishes in economic and political isolation 
under a near totalitarian regime? It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that much 
work remains to be done to guarantee the health of the Cypriot economy 
and our own interests in the region.
  This work begins right here in Congress. We Members must follow the 
lead of Representatives Gilman, Hamilton, Porter, Bilirakis, Engel, and 
Maloney in their efforts on behalf of Cyprus, and I pledge my support 
for the resolution that they have introduced, House Congressional 
Resolution 81. Further, I urge my colleagues to ensure that the Foreign 
Aid Appropriations bill that we submit to the President will include 
the $15 million earmark to help Cyprus in these critical times.
  Congressional actions, however, are not the only means to complete 
the work of building a lasting peace in Cyprus. This month's U.N.-
sponsored peace talks in New York between Greek and Turkish Cypriots 
have shown that the international community shares our determination 
for peace. The European Union, in selecting Cyprus as one of its next 
members, has especially proven their commitment to progress.
  Furthermore, The Clinton administration has taken an energetic and 
more direct approach to the Cyprus issue, and their efforts clearly 
contributed to the spirit of optimism emerging from this month's U.N. 
talks. I further commend the administration's appointment of Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke as Special Emissary for Cyprus. The Ambassador will 
be an important instrument for us to bring about change, most notably 
in the following areas:
  First of all, human rights. Ambassador Holbrooke should be aware of 
our objections to Turkey's deprivation of Greek Cypriot possessions, 
its discrimination against the Greek Cypriot community in Northern 
Cyprus, its restriction of liberties in the form of curfews for Greek 
Cypriots, its confinement of 2,000 Greek Cypriots in detention centers, 
its imprisonment of Greek Cypriots in Turkey, and finally its 
suppression of legal recourse for Greek Cypriots living in the occupied 
areas.
  Second, Cypriot unity. We must urge the Ambassador to work for a 
unified Cyprus, supported by a constitution that provides for 
proportionate and equitable participation of both Greek and Turkish 
Cypriots.
  And finally, missing persons. We will not abandon the American 
citizens who count among the 1,619 people who disappeared following the 
Turkish invasion of 1974.

[[Page H5467]]

  With the continued resolve of Congress, the help of the 
administration, and the cooperation of our European and United Nations 
partners, we will succeed in ending a status quo that fractures Cypriot 
society and stifles democracy and justice for the people of Northern 
Cyprus. In doing so, our strategic, economic, and humanitarian 
interests will be served.
  I thank the gentleman from Florida for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. FRELINGHYSEN. Mr. Speaker, for 23 years now, the citizens of 
Cyprus have had to endure a national divided by a 112-mile barbed-wire 
fence guarded by thousands of soldiers on either side.
  Since the Turkish invasion of the island on July 20, 1974, the 
Turkish Government has fortified the northern section of Cyprus with 
hundreds of tanks with more than half a billion dollars per year in 
military spending for only 175,000 inhabitants. In fact, defense 
spending accounts for approximately three-quarters of the gross 
domestic product for the Turkish-occupied section of Cyprus. It is time 
to send the Turkish tanks homes and let the citizens of Cyprus decide 
the future of their island.
  While appeals for self-determination and peace continue to fall on 
deaf ears in Ankara, there is renewed hope for peace and freedom in 
Cyprus. United States Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, who brokered the 
Dayton Peace Accord for Bosnia, was recently assigned to be United 
States Special Emissary for Cyprus. This is a clear sign that the 
Clinton administration is finally giving Cyprus the diplomatic 
attention that it so desperately needs. I have long held the belief 
that the United States, along with the United Nations, the European 
Union, and interested countries can play a critical and constructive 
role in facilitating efforts toward a peaceful, just, and lasting 
resolution for the Cypriot people.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I, gathered here today, stand ready to 
do what we can to assist Ambassador Holbrooke in his efforts during the 
peace process. In fact I recently signed the following letter, along 
with many of my colleagues, to President Clinton which expresses our 
hope and support for a just and speedy resolution for the people of 
Cyprus. I would like to include the text of that letter for the Record.


                                Congress of the United States,

                                    Washington, DC, July 10, 1997.
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: We are writing to welcome your 
     appointment of Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke as your 
     Special Emissary for Cyprus. The decision is certainly a 
     positive development and reflects the high priority the 
     Administration is attaching to the just and speedy resolution 
     of the Cyprus issue.
       The remainder of the current year, as well as next year, 
     offers a window of opportunity and new hope for progress on 
     the issue. The meetings this week in New York between 
     President Clerides and Mr. Denktash can be a positive 
     development. We also believe that the prospect of Cyprus' 
     accession to the European Union, with negotiations scheduled 
     to start early next year, can act as a catalyst and 
     reinvigorate efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting 
     settlement. We hope that all sides will recognize the 
     benefits of such a prospect and grasp this significant 
     opportunity.
       We, in Congress, have long considered the forcible division 
     and foreign occupation of Cyprus as unacceptable and a 
     continuing source of tension and instability in an area, 
     which undermines our national interests. We have therefore 
     consistently supported a peaceful, just and lasting 
     resolution of the Cyprus problem that will reunify the island 
     and its people. Such a solution will also strengthen peace 
     and stability in the volatile Eastern Mediterranean and 
     significantly advance our national security interests in the 
     region and beyond.
       We firmly believe that the United States, in coordination 
     with the United Nations, the European Union and interested 
     governments can play a critical and constructive role in 
     facilitating efforts towards this end.
       We wish to express our views on what the basis of such a 
     solution should be. We believe that the principles of this 
     resolution should include a reunited country, with a strong 
     federal government in which the federated states derive their 
     powers from the federal constitution. A democratic 
     constitution would create such a federal government and would 
     insure the rights of all citizens, including the rights of 
     all communities. The Constitution would also guarantee 
     private property rights and free travel to all parts of the 
     country.
       We believe that these principles are based on international 
     law, the provisions of relevant United Nations Security 
     Council resolutions, our democratic principles, a respect for 
     human rights, and would be in accordance with the norms and 
     requirements for accession to the European Union. A solution 
     that does not encompass those principles would not lead to a 
     lasting peace.
       Your appointment of Ambassador Holbrooke, the prospect of 
     the European Union accession negotiations and recent positive 
     developments in the Eastern Mediterranean give all of us hope 
     that we will, at long last, witness real progress towards a 
     final resolution of this tragic problem. We are ready to 
     assist your efforts, and the efforts of your emissary, in the 
     best possible way and look forward to cooperating with you 
     closely during the process. We wish to be kept closely 
     advised of the progress that takes place.
           Sincerely,
         Robert Menendez, Luis V. Gutierrez, Thomas J. Manton, 
           Peter Deutsch, Donald M. Payne, George W. Gekas, Ed 
           Pastor, Robert E. Andrews, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Alcee 
           L. Hastings, Brad Sherman, Bob Clement, Albert R. Wynn, 
           Ruben Hinojosa, Bob Filner, John Lewis, Frank Pallone, 
           Jr., John Edward Porter, Sander Levin, Carrie P. Meek, 
           Patrick J. Kennedy, Gary Ackerman, Maurice D. Hinchey, 
           Bill Pascrell, Jr., William O. Lipinski, Marty Meehan, 
           Tom Lantos, David E. Bonior, Michael R. McNulty, 
           Carolyn B. Maloney, Michael Pappas, Stephen Horn, 
           Michael Bilirakis, Mike Forbes, Curt Weldon, Robert T. 
           Matsui, Eliot L. Engel, Earl Blumenauer, Steven R. 
           Rothman, Sherrod Brown, Tim Holden, Esteban E. Torres, 
           John F. Tierney, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Nancy Pelosi, 
           Joseph P. Kennedy II, Darlene Hooley, Charles E. 
           Schumer, Rod R. Blagojevich, Gene Green, Ed Bryant, 
           Nita Lowey, Ron Klink, Walter Capps, Sue W. Kelly, Jim 
           McDermott, Glenn Poshard, Sam Gejdenson, Owen B. 
           Pickett, Herbert H. Bateman, Jane Harman, Howard L. 
           Berman, Rod Frelinghuysen, Elizabeth Furse, Marcy 
           Kaptur, Dennis J. Kucinich, Mike Doyle.
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and frustration 
that I rise this evening to commemorate the 23d anniversary of an 
international crisis. On July 20, 1974, Turkish forces invaded the 
Island Nation of Cyprus, capturing nearly 40 percent of the country and 
70 percent of its economic wealth. The invasion was a craven act of 
aggression resulting in thousands of deaths, the expulsion of 200,000 
Greek-Cypriots from the northern territory of Cyprus and today 1,619 
people, including some Americans, are still unaccounted for. The 
Turkish Government's unjust actions are atrocious violations of human 
rights.
  A permanent reminder of this tragic event is the Green Line, a barbed 
wire fence that severs the nation, cutting across family and community 
ties that had been intact for generations. This oppressive occupation 
is illegal and the Turkish Government's self proclaimed Turkish 
Republic of Northern Cyprus is not recognized in the international 
community. Despite the government of Cyprus making every attempt 
possible to bring peace to the region, Turkish troops, that number well 
over 35,000, are still intact. Turkish warplanes continue to fly over 
Cypriot airspace undeterred by the ban on military planes overflying 
the island. Turkey simply refuses to cooperate in seeking a compromise 
and has even threatened war if Greece asserts its legitimate rights.
  The United States Government has always supported a solution to the 
Cyprus crisis and it's important to continue, in fact, it is time for 
Congress to get even more vocal on the issue. Fortunately, there are 
signs indicating this is becoming a top foreign policy priority as 
Richard Holbrooke will be a special envoy to frame a settlement. This 
is encouraging news as Holbrooke was the key negotiator of the 1995 
accord that ended the ethnic war in Bosnia. By pressing Turkey to 
remove its illegal occupation and to constructively work for a 
resolution we look forward to celebrating the end of this conflict. 
Until that happens, the Turkish Government must know the United States 
will continue to mark this anniversary and speak out for the suffering 
in Cyprus.
  As founders of democracy, Greece and the United States share a 
special and unique kinship. The Republic of Cyprus is an example of a 
country that has maintained its democratic institutions under extremely 
difficult circumstances. It is for these reasons that I vehemently 
oppose the continued Turkish occupation of Cyprus. I am a proud sponsor 
of H.R. 81 the demilitarization of Cyprus proclaiming the status quo 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida, 
Congressman Bilirakis, for once again taking a leading role in 
organizing these annual special orders. Rest assured I will continue to 
be a supporter of Cyprus' security interests and urge all Members to 
support peace and reconciliation in the region.
  Mr. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, as a new Member, it is an honor to 
participate in this important special order. As a Member of the 
International Relations Committee who is privileged to represent many 
Cypriot-Americans, I believe it is imperative to call attention this 
evening to the 24th anniversary of the tragic invasion of Cyprus.
  First, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis], 
and the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney], not just for 
organizing tonight's event, but for their leadership as co-chairs of 
the Congressional

[[Page H5468]]

caucus on Hellenic Issues. I am proud to have joined more than 60 of my 
colleagues on the Caucus, whose goal is to advance our national 
interests by educating Members on the military, diplomatic and human 
rights issues that are paramount in this region.
  Tonight, as we discuss the beautiful island of Cyprus, we reflect on 
the past and look with hope toward the future. Sadly, the event we 
commemorate this evening is one of the most horrifying and tragic in 
recent history. Twenty-four years ago, Turkish forces invaded Cyprus. 
As a result, 200,000 Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes and 
watched as their property was confiscated. Most tragically, more than 
1,600 Cypriots and 5 Americans were captured by Turkish troops and 
remain unaccounted for to this day.
  For almost a quarter of a century, the situation has not demonstrably 
improved. The Turks still occupy over a third of the island with 35,000 
heavily armed troops. Human rights abuses are still common, violent 
clashes between the two sides flare up with regularity, and the 
families of the missing still await any news about their loved ones.
  Unfortunately, this pattern of behavior on Turkey's part is not 
restricted to Cyprus. Earlier this year, the International Relations 
Committee noted in the State Department funding bill that the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul has been the subject to terrorist 
threats without the protection of the Turkish government. And just 
yesterday, the Washington Post editorialized about Turkish mistreatment 
of its Kurdish minority and of journalists who write about this 
conflict.
  But as we lament two dozen years of despair, recent events give us 
some cause for hope. Mr. Speaker, I believe President Clinton 
demonstrated his commitment to finding a just and lasting solution to 
the Cyprus conflict by naming Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as special 
U.S. Envoy. Mr. Holbrooke's diplomatic skills are legendary, and I know 
that he will work very hard to bring peace and human rights to this 
troubled land.
  In another development, President Clirides and Turkish-Cypriot leader 
Denktash met recently for the first time in almost 3 years, and plan to 
meet again next month. I join my colleagues in urging both leaders to 
negotiate in good faith so that Cyprus will once again become a united 
country, free from foreign troops, and a bastion of human rights, peace 
and serenity. I thank my colleagues for inviting me to participate in 
this important special order.
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Greek-Cypriot 
people and express my support for the unified Cyprus. For too long, 
Greek-Cypriots have been living in a divided nation. It is my firm 
belief that the time has come for a reversal of the unlawful 
territorial gains made by Turkish forces in 1974, and for a unified 
Cyprus to once again assume its rightful place among nations.
  I am optimistic that a unified Cyprus will begin to emerge in the 
coming months, especially given the Clinton administration's new 
commitment to this troubled part of the world. I believe the 
appointment of Mr. Richard Holbrooke as our Nation's special envoy for 
Cyprus marks the beginning of this long-awaited transformation.
  Greek-Cypriots have always been the majority in Cyprus. 
Unfortunately, the tragic events of July 20, 1974 created a divided 
Cyprus. When Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960, Turkish-
Cypriots aggressively sought to dominate the newly independent state of 
Cyprus. While Cyprus' 1960 constitution provided for power-sharing 
between the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot communities, the Turkish-Cypriot 
community, which constituted 18% of the island's population, gained 
veto powers over legislation and became entitled to a disproportionate 
share of governmental posts.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus and declared 
victory by securing 37% of the island's territory. This unilateral 
military action led to the flight of thousands of refugees from their 
ancestral homeland. To this day, over 35,000 Turkish troops remain on 
Cyprus. That is 35,000 too many troops. That is 35,000 too many war-
makers. What we need on the island of Cyprus is not more troops, not 
more armed forces from the Republic of Turkey, but peace-makers, people 
who are willing to secure a genuine peace, restoring unity to the proud 
people of Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, my final remarks concern the solemn memory of the 1,619 
Greek-Cypriots, who to this day, remain unaccounted for after Turkey's 
1974 invasion. Among these individuals were five Americans, who like 
the others, share a fate unknown and whose loss pains their respective 
families to this day. So as the reconciliation process moves forward, I 
for one, strongly believe that officials from the Republic of Turkey 
must account for the missing. They must work hard to bring to a close 
the tragedy born out of their decision to invade Cyprus in 1974.
  On behalf of my Greek and Cypriot-American constituents, it is a 
solemn honor to join with them on this day and stand in solidarity with 
their cause.
  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, July 20th will mark the 23d anniversary of 
Turkey's illegal invasion of Cyprus and their continued occupation of 
the country of Cyprus. I rise today to join my colleagues to 
commemorate this event. I particularly want to thank Congressman 
Bilirakis for arranging this special order.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important event in the history of Cyprus 
because it marks the end of the Greek Cypriots freedom to practice 
their religion, educate their children as they see fit and express 
themselves in an open and free manner.
  Since Turkey first invaded Cyprus in 1974, 1,619 people, including 
five Americans, were last seen alive in the occupied areas of Cyprus 
and have never been accounted for. We must not let the passage of years 
weaken our determination to pressure the Turkish Government to provide 
answers for the families of the missing. We cannot forget that their 
suffering continues.
  Last summer, Cyprus was witness to some of the worst outbreaks of 
violence in their region since 1974. The two separate hostile incidents 
left two young men dead and many injured. This illustrates the need to 
bring to an end the illegal occupation of the island of Cyprus. 
Although there has been little reescalation of violence since then, an 
uneasy calm continues to hand over the divided island.
  During my time in Congress, I have taken an active interest in Greek 
issues. As a member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I have 
continuously strived to find a solution to the problem that plagues 
Cyprus and her people. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with 
my colleagues in Congress on a number of other issues which directly 
impact the Greek and Greek-American communities.
  A number of pieces of legislation addressing the Cyprus issue and 
those related to it have been introduced during the 105th Congress and 
I am proud to be a cosponsor of these important bills. In particular, 
House Concurrent Resolution 81 calls for a United States initiative 
seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in Cyprus. In 
addition, H.R. 1361 would prohibit economic support fund assistance 
under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for the Government of Turkey 
for Fiscal Year 1998 unless they make certain improvements relating to 
human rights.
  This week in the Catskill Mountains a glimmer of hope has emerged 
through the tension which has hunted the island of Cyprus for over 20 
years. The two leaders of Cyprus, Rauf Dentkash and Glafcos Clerides, 
have been enemies in the past, however, their discussions seem to be 
leading in the direction of finding a solution to the problems they, 
and their people, have been facing for so many years. I was pleased to 
learn of the positive feedback given by the leaders and by the United 
Nations about what has been accomplished during these talks so far and 
the hope for a positive outcome.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my 
congratulations to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke for becoming the new 
special emissary for Cyprus. His past success and leadership on the 
peace process in Bosnia was an asset to Bosnia, the United States and 
the entire international community. I am confident his expertise and 
rigorous diplomacy will produce a positive outcome to the situation in 
Cyprus.
  Earlier this year, I was pleased to meet with Rev. Christophorou 
Christophorou, the president of the Cyprus National Committee of 
Struggle for the Missing Persons, during the annual conference of 
PSEKA. We discussed the issue of those missing from Cyprus as a result 
of the Turkish invasion of the 1974 and other issues important to the 
people of Cyprus.
  Turkey holds the key to ending the Cyprus situation. It is my hope 
that next year we will be celebrating the end of the strangling 
occupation of Turkish troops on the island of Cyprus and the people of 
Cyprus may once again enjoy the freedoms so many of us enjoy and take 
for granted.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I would like first to thank 
my colleague from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, for organizing this special 
order acknowledging the 23d anniversary of the Turkish occupation of 
the island of Cyprus. It is imperative that we correct Cyprus' 
situation as a divided state. The people of Cyprus are divided into two 
states ruled by two governments. The Greek Cypriots in the south are 
ruled by the Republic of Cyprus, erected in 1960 when independence was 
granted. The north has been occupied by the Turkish since 1975, when 
they illegally invaded the island.
  The divided Cyprus is a story of two nations; one a well balanced 
democracy with three thriving parties, the other a militarily occupied 
area. The economic disparity in the divided Cyprus is even more 
pronounced. The south's economy is booming as the result of their low 
trade barriers and free market economies. Their GNP has risen at a 
record-breaking rate as unemployment falls. Meanwhile,

[[Page H5469]]

the economy of the north has stagnated and inflation run rampant at 70 
percent as the Turkish close it off from the rest of the world. For 
there ever to be peace and prosperity on the island of Cyprus, a 
unified independent government protecting all of Cyprus must be 
created. A critical part of such an event will be the withdrawal of 
Turkish troops from northern Cyprus. Only then will Cyprus become the 
thriving member of the European trade community it has the potential to 
become.
  In my State of Rhode Island we have a strong Greek and Cypriot 
community, which has brought the plight of Cyprus to my attention. Only 
when we, in Congress, show our strong support for a unified Cyprus will 
the necessary changes occur.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in 
marking a sad day, the 23d anniversary of the Turkish invasion and 
partition of the Republic of Cyprus. I would like to thank and comment 
Mr. Bilirakis of Florida for his vigilance and commitment to a peaceful 
resolution of this illegal act which cast a pall on the world stage on 
July 20, 1974.
  This is, perhaps, the first time in 23 years that we can reasonably 
talk about an end to the standoff on Cyprus. Many of us in the House 
have long fought for peace, some from the very moment the Turkish army 
landed on the island nation's northern shores, depositing thousands of 
troops and armor in a bald-faced land grab. Tragically, it was with 
U.S. arms in hand that Turkish soldiers committed their brutal acts of 
atrocity. Today, only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot state which 
declared independence in 1983. No other nation has taken that step.
  Recently, President Clinton showed us reason for hope. With the 
appointment of Richard Holbrooke as his special envoy for Cyprus, the 
President gave every indication that the clock is ticking, and he 
intends there be peace on Cyrpus. Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders sat 
down in upstate New York only last week to lay the groundwork for 
future talks. All of this is encouraging, and significant for a region 
which could explode at any moment. At present Cyprus is a tinderbox: 
35-thousand Turkish troops are on the island and stand ready to rip it 
apart. Despite the tension on the island, and the longstanding 
animosity between Greece and Turkey, it has been Greece which has shown 
a desire to move the peace process forward, sounding a conciliatory 
tone toward Turkey, a move which I commend and support.
  While we work for an end to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, we must 
do so within the context of a just peace. Peace should come with a full 
accounting of the atrocities committed against the Greek Cypriot 
community. Nearly 2,000 people, including 5 Americans, are still 
missing, unaccounted for, 23 years after the invasion; thousands of 
Greek Cypriots have been uprooted from their homes. We cannot allow 
more than two decades of human rights abuses to go uninvestigated.
  A just peace, Mr. Speaker, is a lasting peace. The people of Cyprus 
deserve no less.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today's special order on Cyprus comes on the 
eve of the 23d anniversary of the brutal invasion by Turkish troops. I 
congratulate my friend, the gentleman from Florida, [Mr. Bilirakis] for 
organizing this special order. As we observe this sad anniversary, the 
international community is still faced with the fact that in excess of 
30,000 Turkish military personnel remain on the island to enforce an 
illegal partition and protect a self-proclaimed government that has 
been recognized by only one other country--Turkey itself.
  Those of us in Congress who have supported a negotiated settlement to 
the dispute which has led to the division of Cyprus are painfully aware 
of the complexities of the issue, the injustices committed, and 
particularly the suffering over these many long years of the Cypriot 
people on both sides of the green line.
  Indeed, Cyprus has become a code word for stalemate and 
intractability in international diplomacy.
  Last week there occurred a new, positive development in Madrid on the 
fringes of the NATO summit. The Foreign Ministers of both Greece and 
Turkey met together under the auspices of our own Government and agreed 
on a set of principles to guide the resolution of disputes between our 
two NATO allies. The essential element of the statement issued by the 
Foreign Ministers is that disputes between Greece and Turkey are to be 
settled through peaceful means and will be based on the mutual 
recognition of their legitimate interests. While this communique was 
related specifically to disputes in the Aegean, I am hopeful that it 
will inaugurate an era of better understanding on all the issues that 
concern Greece and Turkey, including Cyprus itself. Although a 
resolution of the Cyprus problem depends first and foremost upon the 
will of the Cypriot people themselves, regardless of their ethnic 
background, certainly a better relationship between Greece and Turkey 
can play a critical role in helping resolve this vexing international 
dispute.
  It is gratifying that the Clinton administration seems more 
interested than in the past in finding a solution for Cyprus. The 
announcement last month that President Clinton has appointed Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke as Special Envoy for Cyprus is also promising. If 
Ambassador Holbrooke brings the same energy and determination to Cyprus 
as he brought to ending the conflict in Bosnia, it is hopeful that he 
will be able to convince the Cypriot people to put behind them their 
differences and work out a just and peaceful settlement.
  The shape of a possible settlement is out there. I believe that both 
President Clerides and Mr. Denktash are men who can rise above the 
recent enmity that has developed between the two communities, and find 
a way to reunite the island based on mutual goodwill and confidence. We 
should all encourage the two leaders to make the most of the direct 
talks which began in New York last week.
  Old history and grievances must be placed behind us as we seek to 
resolve the division of Cyprus. It is hoped that both sides will reach 
within themselves to find the resolve to settle this persistent 
problem. The Greek Cypriots have demonstrated flexibility and the 
spirit of compromise in recent rounds of U.N. sponsored talks. We call 
upon Mr. Denktash to demonstrate the same flexibility.
  Twenty-three years is too long a time. There are now young people 
coming of age in Cyprus who know nothing other than the experience of 
living in a divided society. For this next generation what can guide 
them in learning to accept life with a neighboring but different 
culture? Time is running out for the possibility of achieving a 
peaceful settlement, and the people of Cyprus now have to ask 
themselves if the enmity between the two communities is truly worth the 
price of a divided nation.
  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 23d 
anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish military forces, and 
to express my support for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as he 
strives to bring a long awaited peace to this troubled island.
  After 23 years, the people of northern Cyprus continue to be ruled by 
Rauf Denktash, who assumed control on July 20, 1974, with the 
assistance of 6,000 Turkish troops. There are still 1,619 people whose 
whereabouts remain unknown in the wake of the Turkish assault that 
captured 40 percent of the island. Of the 1,619 missing, 5 are United 
States citizens.
  The United Nations has always recognized the Greek Cypriot Government 
as the legitimate government of the island, while Turkey remains the 
only country that recognizes Denktash's government and supports it with 
30,000 troops scattered at military posts throughout the north of 
Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot Government has continually refused to make 
progress toward a solution to the conflict.
  In the past years, the international community has attempted to 
pressure Turkey to pull its hand away from the Cyprus conflict. Last 
year, the Clinton administration made an attempt to ease tensions by 
sending Special Presidential Emissary Richard Beattie to the region. 
Beattie's efforts were unsuccessful because neither Turkey or the 
Turkish Cypriot Government seemed willing to work toward facilitating 
change.
  Last week, the United Nations brought the Greek and Turkish Cypriot 
leaders together in upstate New York for several days of talks. 
President Glafco Clerides of Cyprus and Rauf Denktash are meeting face 
to face for the first time in 3 years. The aims of the talks are to 
achieve a bizonal, bicommunal federation between the two sides. It is 
my belief that the United Nations, the European Union, and the United 
States should continue to keep pressure on the Turkish Cypriot leaders 
and the Turkish Government in order to facilitate a peaceful resolution 
to this conflict.
  Mr. Speaker, the Cypriot people deserve peace and prosperity. Let us 
send a clear message that the United States Congress supports the 
United Nations efforts to bring pace to the people of Cyprus.
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, July 20, 1997, marks the 23d 
anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of the Republic of 
Cyprus by Turkey. The legacy of this invasion and subsequent division 
of Cyprus continues to this day, making Cyprus the only country in the 
world divided by a wall. Constructed by the invading Turks in an effort 
to divide the island, the Green Line, as it has become known, is a 
symbol of the ugly face of naked aggression.
  This aggression came on July 20, 1974, in the form of 6,000 Turkish 
troops and 40 tanks. Turkish forces successfully seized 40 percent of 
the island which represented 70 percent of the Nation's economic 
health; 200,000 Greek Cypriots were forced from their homes by the 
invading forces, and to this day, 1,619 people remain unaccounted for--
5 of them American citizens.

[[Page H5470]]

  Turkey has since fortified its illegally obtained gains by placing 
30,000 troops and 65,000 settlers in the land that rightfully belongs 
to the forcibly ousted Greek Cypriots. We simply cannot validate an 
unwarranted, unprovoked invasion of a peaceful, self-governing republic 
by allowing Turkish occupation to continue. The presence of the Turkish 
troops represents the continuing shackles of occupation and oppression 
and also demonstrates a gross violation of human rights and 
international law.
  I am encouraged by the undaunted spirit and courage of the Greek 
Cypriots in the face of this occupation. That is why I hope that the 
23d anniversary that July 20 signifies will rekindle American and 
international intolerance of aggression and inspire us to nullify the 
rewards Turkey has reaped as a result of this illegal action. The Greek 
Cypriots deserve this justice and I remain committed to efforts to 
deliver this to them.
  Ms. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to a 
dubious anniversary. As we sit here, after 23 years of Turkish 
occupation of Cyprus, it is especially appropriate to recognize the 
struggle for the freedom of all Cypriots that has been waged for more 
than two decades.
  It was over two decades ago that 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 tanks 
landed on the north coast of Cyprus, and more than 200,000 Cypriots 
were driven from their homes and forced to live under foreign 
occupation. Over two decades ago, and still Turkey has thousands of 
troops on the island. Over two decades ago, and we still don't know 
what became of the 1,614 Greek Cypriots and 5 American citizens missing 
since the Turkish invasion.
  That is why I'm pleased that we have this opportunity today. Today, 
we remember what happened in Cyprus 23 years ago and we pledge to fight 
to end the occupation. Today, we also look toward the promise of the 
future. President Clinton recently demonstrated his commitment to 
solving this difficult issue by appointing Richard Holbrooke as the 
special envoy to Cyprus. I applaud the President for this decision and 
I hope that it will lead to a real solution for Cyprus. I hope that 
this time next year we will be standing here on the House floor 
celebrating the end of the Turkish occupation.
  We must continue to fight against injustice in Cyprus. We must 
continue to provide aid to Cyprus to help that country deal with the 
terrible problems caused by more than two decades of Turkish 
occupation. And, above all, we must continue to keep the plight of the 
Cypriots on the minds of everyone around the world.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, July 20, we will be 
commemorating the 23d anniversary of a tragic day for the democratic 
people of Cyprus. That was the day in 1974 that a foreign army invaded 
and occupied the northern one-third of the island.
  Since that time the Cypriot people have been struggling to regain 
their freedom and the House of Representatives and the American people 
need to be aware of the plight and the suffering of the people of 
Cyprus. Therefore, I am very pleased that Congressman Bilirakis has 
called this special order so that I may join with him and my other 
colleagues to bring the suffering of Cyprus to the attention of the 
general public.
  We should note that there are encouraging signs of a growing 
commitment to find a peaceful resolution to this problem. The President 
has appointed Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as Special Envoy on Cyprus. 
Ambassador Holbrooke played a key role in bringing the warring factions 
in Bosnia to the peace table and to agreement on the Dayton peace 
agreement. Ambassador Holbrooke, along with the ongoing effort by the 
United Nations and the European Union member countries, will try to 
finally bring the 23-year-old dispute to a peaceful resolution.
  A peaceful resolution to the Cyprus problem is not just in the 
interest of the Cypriot people. As a country at the cross roads of the 
great civilizations of Europe and the Middle East, Cyprus has long been 
an island where people from all these civilizations and cultures 
mingled freely and in harmony. Cyprus can and needs to play a 
stabilizing role in this volatile region of the world, as it once did 
before. That would be in the United States interest, as well as in the 
interest of the Cypriot people.
  But no peaceful resolution will ever succeed while a foreign military 
force occupies the northern one-third of the island.
  The people of Cyprus understood their cultural diversity and were 
able to live peacefully together for hundreds of years. Outside forces 
intervened and then invaded Cyprus, caused the division of the island 
by barbed wire.
  Many thousands of Cypriots were forced to leave their homes and have 
since been prevented from returning. Hundreds, called the enclaved, 
remain in the military occupied northern part of the island and are 
suffering many human rights violations under police-state conditions. 
They are prevented from freely communicating with or meeting with each 
other or the outside world. These Greek Cypriots, many of whom are 
elderly, are forced to send their children away to school and suffer 
many deprivations and hardships and human rights violations.
  I filed legislation in the last Congress and am prepared to refile it 
if a peaceful resolution is not found to relieve the suffering of the 
enclaved. This legislation would this redirect United States foreign 
assistance away from the country who maintains a military force in 
northern Cyprus and redirect that assistance to the suffering people of 
the enclaved.
  Within the last 12 months, the situation had temporarily become very 
tense and threatened to escalate which could have set off an 
international chain reaction, causing many deaths. Thanks to the 
efforts of cool heads, tensions were reduced. But the world can ill 
afford to allow the forcibly divided Cyprus situation to continue much 
longer. We must find a way to find a peaceful, lasting, and real 
resolution to this problem.
  I thank the Greek-American community for bringing the plight of 
people of Cyprus to our attention and for their ongoing efforts to 
reunite the island of Cyprus. Recent signs are encouraging but a 
resolution to the CYPRUS problem remains elusive. We must all keep up 
the pressure on the Clinton administration and the United Nations and 
the European Union.
  I wish to commend Ambassador Holbrooke and the administration for 
their efforts thus far and urge them to continue their good work on the 
crucial problem of Cyprus.
  I congratulate my fellow Floridian Congressman Bilirakis, for being 
the guiding force in Congress to bring this issue of peace and true 
freedom for all of Cyprus to the attention of the House and the general 
public.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 23d anniversary 
of Turkey's invasion, and subsequent occupation, of Cyprus.
  In 1960, Cyprus gained its political independence from the British 
Empire. Fourteen short years later, however, this independence was 
shattered when 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 tanks invaded the north 
coast of Cyprus and proceeded to occupy nearly 40 percent of the 
island. The ensuing fighting killed thousands of Cypriots and forced 
hundreds of thousands from their homes. Today, there are 1,619 people 
still missing, 5 of whom are U.S. citizens.
  Twenty-three years after the invasion, we gather to remember those 
who died and to ensure that the world never forgets that Cyprus is a 
land divided. More than 35,000 Turkish troops continue to occupy Cyprus 
in violation of international law. A barbed wire fence cuts across the 
island, separating families from their property and splitting this once 
beautiful country in half.
  I am pleased that President Clinton has taken positive steps to 
resolve the situation in Cyprus, including his recent appointment of 
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy to Cyprus. I strongly 
encourage Ambassador Holbrooke to hold Turkey accountable for its 
brutal occupation of Cyprus and to ensure that the island is returned 
to its rightful owners.
  The occupation of Cyprus is one of the reasons that I offered an 
amendment to the Fiscal Year 1997 Foreign Operations appropriations 
bill that would have effectively cut $25 million in United States 
economic aid to Turkey. This amendment, which the House overwhelmingly 
approved by a vote of 301 to 118, sends a clear message to Turkey that 
its illegal and immoral occupation of Cyprus will not be tolerated by 
this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues in standing up 
against Turkish oppression in Cyprus. I would especially like to extend 
my thanks to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for his 
tireless work to ensure that the people of Cyprus are not forgotten. 
Twenty-three years is a long time to wait, but it is my sincerest hope 
that our actions will help persuade Turkey to end its unlawful 
occupation of Cyprus.
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 23d anniversary of 
Turkey's invasion of the peaceful, self-governing island of Cyprus. For 
23 years, Turkey has tried to make the island its own. It has attempted 
to do this by installing 80,000 illegal colonists, by maintaining over 
30,000 heavily armed troops on the island, and by moving 200,000 Greek 
Cypriots from their homes. Through 23 years of hardship, the people of 
Cyprus have held on to a hope for peace and for the return of their 
island. Their purpose has not been revenge, but negotiation and 
reconciliation. Here in the House of Representatives, we have the 
opportunity to help the cause of justice. Several colleagues and I sent 
a letter recently to the President outlining our concern for the 
delicate peace process in Cyprus. We wrote welcoming the appointment of 
Ambassador Holbrooke as Special Emissary for Cyprus, and what we 
believe a lasting and peaceful solution should look like: a reunited 
country, with a strong federal system; a democratic constitution which 
would insure the rights of

[[Page H5471]]

the minority; and guaranteed property right and free travel. I then 
went one step further and wrote directly to Ambassador Holbrooke and 
asked him the following two questions: First, if the Turkish Government 
fails to negotiate in good faith, what actions, sanctions or otherwise 
is the United States prepared to take? Second, if the Turkish 
Government fails to negotiate in good faith, what incentives will the 
United States provide Turkey, in recognition of this major step 
forward? While I have not yet received a response to my questions, 
there is no doubt in my mind that this Congress can have a positive 
effect on the outcome of peace for the island nation.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 388, legislation I have 
introduced that would cut off all economic and military assistance to 
Turkey until that country complies with several conditions, including 
progress toward withdrawal from Cyprus. As saddened as I am by their 
plight, as dismal as their treatment by a foreign force has been, we 
should all be inspired by the patience, courage and faith shown by the 
people of Cyprus. Let us make this the year when the people of Cyprus 
once again can govern themselves with peace and dignity.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my esteemed colleague from 
Florida, Mr. Bilirakis for organizing this special order on the 23d 
anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus.
  In 1974, Turkey launched an invasion of the island of Cyprus that 
resulted in thousands of deaths, the displacement of over 200,000 
people from their homes, and the occupation of 38 percent of the island 
of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces.
  Today, over 35,000 Turkish soldiers and 80,000 Turkish ``colonists'' 
occupy the northern portions of the island. They are divided from the 
Greek-Cypriots by a barbed-wire fence referred to as the ``Green 
Line.'' This buffer zone is patrolled and maintained by a 1,160-strong 
U.N. peace keeping force. Periodic outbreaks of violence have broken 
out along this dividing line. Just last year, an unarmed Greek teenager 
bled to death after being shot by Turkish troops within sight of 
peacekeepers. The peacekeepers attempted to rescue the youth, but were 
fired upon from the Turkish side.
  The United States must work to put a stop to this cycle of violence 
and separation.
  I am encouraged by President Clinton's appointment of Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke as our Nation's Special Emissary to Cyprus. It is my 
hope that this, along with renewed efforts by the United Nations and 
the European Union, will help bring an end to the long entrenched 
disputes that separate the two sides.
  I am also encouraged by the renewal of talks in New York between 
Greek Cypriot President Glafcos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf 
Dentkash. While the two remain far from an agreement, the leaders have 
at least resumed a dialogue and agreed to additional talks in Nicosia, 
the capital of Cyprus, and in Geneva later this year.
  According to U.N. Special Envoy Diego Cordovez, the two agree that a 
settlement is necessary for Cyprus to survive, but still disagree over 
the particulars of what should be included any final agreement. My hope 
is that the talks will result in a settlement that includes the 
complete removal of all foreign forces from the island and the 
establishment of a free and fair democratic government that represents 
the interests of all the island's citizens.
  In the absence of such an agreement, I would urge the two parties to 
again consider the option of demilitarization of the island. This could 
be used as a first step to build confidence between the two sides and 
remove negative foreign influences from the equation.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, today marks the twenty-third anniversary of 
an extremely troubling event; the invasion and occupation of the 
northern part of Cyprus. This takeover was an escalation of unrest and 
violence that Cyprus had been experiencing since it gained independence 
from Great Britain in 1960.
  As a result of this tragic event, 1,614 Greek Cypriots and five 
Americans have been missing since the 1974 invasion. In 1996 the 
Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktash, reported that the missing 
Greek Cypriots had been handed over to Turkish Cypriot fighters who 
carried out revenge massacres, killing all of those who were missing.
  Turkish troops now occupy thirty-eight percent of Cyprus, a segment 
that is recognized only by the State of Turkey. This occupation has led 
to the dislocation of thousands of Creek Cypriots from their hometowns, 
friends, and families. This is an unacceptable situation, and our 
Nation should act decisively to right this wrong.
  The situation in Cyprus continues to get worse. In 1996, the violence 
in Cyprus reached it's worst level since the 1974 invasion. Violence in 
the buffer zone increased in 1996 as many supporters from both side 
were killed throughout the year. In addition to the increase in 
violence, the Greek Cypriots have begun purchasing SA-10 missiles from 
Russia, which they will begin receiving in February 1998. This has 
increased tensions, as the Turkish Cypriots insist they will maintain 
their troops in Cyprus as the level and the rate of increase of arms in 
Cyprus continues to increase.
  Tolerance and reconciliation needs to be stressed to find a solution 
to this crisis. Again, I urge that we take the necessary steps to 
obtain a favorable constitutional and territorial settlement.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate an unhappy 
anniversary--the Turkish military invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in 
July 1974. Mr. Speaker, it has been twenty three years--the occupation 
remains in place and the suffering of the people of Cyprus continues.
  When the Turkish armed forces invaded Cyprus twenty three years ago, 
the people of Cyprus were driven from their homes and villages, 
brutalized, and over 1,600 people--including 5 American citizens--were 
never heard from again. Since that time, the Turkish military has 
maintained a barbed wire border, with an occupying force of 35,000 
troops, called the green line that cuts through miles of countryside.
  Mr. Speaker, Greek-Americans in my home town of San Diego and across 
the United States also share in the agony created by the occupation of 
Cyprus. They agonize about missing friends and family, the destruction 
of the Greek-Cypriot culture and the denial of access to ancestral 
homelands now occupied by the Turkish army.
  These people have suffered too long. It is time for the Turkish 
occupying force to leave and it is time to allow the people of Cyprus 
to establish a true and united democracy.
  The momentum for a real solution to this tragic situation is 
developing. Negotiations between the parties are proceeding and 
President Clinton recently appointed Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke as 
his Special Emissary for Cyprus. I agree with him that the time for a 
peaceful solution to this problem is long overdue. We must work to put 
an end to this occupation and I urge the parties to continue their 
talks until a peaceful settlement is agreed to. The time for the 
withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus is now and the need is urgent. 
The green line that separates the people of Cyprus must be erased 
forever.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 23d year since the 
brutal partition of Cyprus, yet the focus of the international 
community and the Congress on a resolution to this tragic separation 
has not lessened. If anything, attention on the plight of Cyprus has 
heightened recently. In 1996 we unfortunately witnessed the worst 
outbreak of violence since the invasion in 1974. In January of this 
year the Clerides government signed a contract to purchase Russian S-
300 air defense missiles. These factors combined threaten to introduce 
a new and destabilizing element in the mediation process, and has 
generated a sense of urgency in the efforts towards achieving a viable 
settlement. Indeed, the role of the United States in pressing for peace 
on the island has become even more vital to ensuring the creation of a 
stable, secure and free Europe.
  On June 4, President Clinton named former U.S. Assistant Secretary of 
State for European and Canadian Affairs, Richard Holbrooke, as Special 
Presidential Envoy for Cyprus. I wholeheartedly welcome that 
appointment. As one of our most capable negotiators, Mr. Holbrooke's 
appointment demonstrates the United States' commitment to help support 
a final political settlement on Cyprus. I also want to commend the 
Clinton Administration's announced determination to support the peace 
brokering efforts of the United Nations, as well as ensuring that 1997 
is the year of the ``Big Push on Cyprus.'' I am also delighted to note 
that the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot leaders, Mr. Clerides and Mr. 
Denktash, convened recently for U.N.-sponsored direct peace talks. This 
step can only serve to bear further positive fruit.
  There is no doubt about the necessary role that the U.S. Congress 
must play in assisting the parties in reaching a just and peaceful 
resolution. That is why I cosponsored House Concurrent Resolution 81, 
introduced by International Relations Committee Chairman Ben Gilman. 
This bill reaffirms that the status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable and 
detrimental to U.S. interests. The resolution also calls for the 
complete demilitarization leading to the withdrawal of foreign 
occupation forces, as well as the cessation of foreign arms transfers 
to Cyprus--all necessary and vital actions that must be undertaken 
before any settlement is reached.
  The time is ripe for one of the world's most intractable conflicts to 
disappear into the dustbin of history. In fact, NATO's efforts to 
expand and redefine its role in the post-cold-war era require that the 
Cyprus conflict be resolved. As a worrisome source of friction between 
Greece and Turkey, NATO's anchors in the eastern Mediterranean, it 
serves as a thorn in the side of the greatest alliance ever forged.

[[Page H5472]]

  I conclude by reiterating Secretary Albright's remarks that Cyprus is 
a valued partner in the fight against the new global threats of 
proliferation, terrorism, illegal narcotics, and international crime. 
Cyprus and the United States share common values and are committed to 
building a world based on open markets, democratic principles and the 
rule of law. These ties demand that the United States continue to work 
towards assisting the two Cypriot communities in reaching a just and 
secure peace.

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