[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H6362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today we are observing a tragic occasion, 
the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops. I commend the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) who has, over the years, made certain that the 
House does not fail to observe the events of July 1974, the tragic 
consequences of which still persist today, more than a quarter of a 
century later.
  The occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish troops which began some 
26 years ago has turned into one of the most vexing problems of the 
international community, confounding the efforts of five presidents, 
four U.N. Secretaries General, and many of the world's top diplomats, 
including our own.
  Late last year, we finally saw the first faint signs of hope when 
Rauf Denktash, a Turkish Cypriot leader, decided after more than 2 
years of stonewalling, to agree to participate in U.N.-sponsored 
proximity talks with President Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader. A 
few days ago, the third round of those talks resumed in Geneva. 
Although they have recessed until later this month, the good news is 
that they are going to continue, and further rounds for the fall of 
this year are also scheduled.
  But mere talks alone do not achieve any resolution of this issue. We 
need to see substantive discussions with real progress being made.
  It is gratifying that this summer, we have had two young people from 
Cyprus serving as interns with our Committee on International 
Relations. They have given their personal viewpoint, providing some 
convincing evidence to us that a resolution of the Cyprus problem is 
very possible, if sufficient political will is brought about by both 
sides. Greek Cypriot President Clerides has over the years demonstrated 
that kind of will. We must, therefore, look to Mr. Denktash and to 
Ankara. There is, thankfully, a new dynamic at play, which is the 
European Union's accession talks with Cyprus and the prospective 
candidacy for EU membership that was extended to Turkey by the EU just 
late last year.
  Membership in the European Community is now at hand for Cyprus; and 
with all of that, it entails cementing a peaceful and prosperous future 
for the Cypriot people. Likewise, Turkey, in order to demonstrate its 
own commitment to the peaceful democratic values that lie at the core 
of the European Union, must decide whether it wants to play a positive 
role in resolving the Cyprus dispute, or a divisive one.
  Mr. Speaker, when I first came to the Congress some 28 years ago, 
Cyprus was one of the first international crises in which I became 
involved as a member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs, as it was 
then labeled. It is one of the most frustrating facts that I have faced 
as I look back on that now, after a quarter of a century during which 
we have seen the collapse of communism in Europe, greater peace in the 
Middle East, a possible settlement in Northern Ireland, and conflicts 
resolved in the Balkan tinderbox, but no movement on Cyprus.
  Accordingly, we call upon our State Department and our President to 
continue to place the highest priority on working with the Turkish 
Government and all parties in Cyprus to produce results in this ongoing 
U.N. negotiation.
  I have conferred with our special envoy to Cyprus, Al Moses; and I 
know that he is committed to achieving success, but he needs to have 
the continued backing of high officials, including our President. With 
such support, I am confident we can produce the outcome that we have 
all been seeking for so long, a reunified Cyprus and a peaceful and 
prosperous future for all of the Cypriot people.

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