[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1537-E1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            24TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday , August 3, 1998

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and 
privilege to once again stand with the gentleman from Florida and 
commemorate the anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of 
Cyprus. The continued presence of Turkish troops represents a gross 
violation of human rights and international law.
  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. 
Today, there is still a barb-wired fence, known as the Green Line, that 
cuts across the island separating thousands of Greek Cypriots from the 
towns and communities in which they and their families had previously 
lived for generations.
  Altogether, the illegal invasion and occupation by Turkey represents 
24 years of unanswered questions, 24 years of division, 24 years of 
human rights violations, and 24 years of cultural destruction.

[[Page E1538]]

  When the Turkish troops invaded the island, they took 1,614 Cypriots 
and five Americans and have never been seen or heard from since. For 24 
years their families have had to wonder whether they are. This spring, 
the remains of Andrew Kassapis were brought home to his parents in 
Michigan. I was touched and honored to have had the opportunity to take 
part in a memorial service with his family and other Hellenic leaders 
on the steps of the Capitol. This report is only the beginning. We must 
find out the fates of the 1,614 Cypriots who have also been missing 
since 1974. I will continue my work in Congress to bring answers to the 
families and friends of the Cypriots who are still missing and to bring 
the remains of the other four Americans, including George Anastasiou 
and Christaci Loizoi, home to their families. The Kassapis family was 
able to experience some closure and I want to see these other families 
afforded the same right.
  Others that must not be forgotten are the people detained in the 
enclaved areas of Northern Cyprus. In 1974, 20,000 Greek-Cypriots did 
not leave their homes after the Northern portion of the island was 
occupied. There are strict restrictions on where they are allowed to 
travel. If they leave their villages, they are no longer allowed to 
return. Those 20,000 people have been the victims of persecution and 
discrimination that has caused their depletion. Now only 540 people are 
left. And, Greek Cypriots that want to visit their family and friends 
in the enclaved area are forced to pay $30 for each visit.
  Using Cyprus's European Union membership aspirations as a pretext, 
Turkey has recently embarked on an increasingly hostile pursuit of its 
long-standing objective to partition Cyprus.
  Illegal military overflights of Cyprus have increased, Turkish 
occupation forces have brought new weaponry into the occupied area, and 
they have provoked incidents along the UN cease-fire line, killing four 
Greek Cypriots in 1996. Turkey has also made plans for the construction 
of two new naval bases and an air force base in the occupied area and 
has upgraded its bases on the southern coast of Turkey, which is only 
50 miles from Cyprus.
  Most ominous of all, Turkey has threatened to ``integrate'' the 
occupied area of Cyprus if Cyprus joins the EU, and the Turkish Cypriot 
leader has said that ``there will be war if Cyprus joins the EU.'' 
Turkey has, in fact, already signed a number of ``agreements'' with the 
illegal Turkish Cypriot regime that lay the groundwork for an eventual 
annexation of the occupied area.
  In August 1997, Cypriot President Clerides provided the Turkish 
Cypriot community's leader with a proposal to engage in a dialogue to 
resolve security concerns of all parties. On June 20 of this year, 
President Clerides requested U.N. Secretary General Annan to undertake 
a personal initiative to reduce military tensions. President Clerides 
reiterated to Annan his commitment to reconsider the acquisition of 
missiles if progress is made leading to the demilitarizations of 
Cyprus.
  Last year, this Congress passed a resolution urging the 
Administration to launch an initiative to resolve the Cyprus problem, 
setting forth the parameters for such a solution, including 
demilitarization. The Turkish side, however, has refused to come to the 
negotiating table unless the occupied area is first recognized as an 
independent state and Cyprus withdraws its application to join the EU. 
The U.S. has opposed these conditions as unacceptable obstacles to 
progress in resolving the Cyprus problem.
  We must stress that Turkey must come to the negotiating table with no 
preconditions and open to peace;
  We must stress that demilitarization of the island is necessary to 
obtain peace;
  And, we must stress that there will be severe consequences if further 
military action against Cyprus is taken.
  We must take a firm stand in obtaining peace on Cyprus in the 
upcoming year so that next year we may celebrate peace instead of 
remembering war.

                          ____________________