[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 95 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S7386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            26TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S INVASION OF CYPRUS

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 26th 
anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus. Twenty-
six years ago today, Turkey seized on a period of political unrest in 
predominantly Greek Cyprus and invaded its shores. Landing on the north 
coast of Cyprus with 6,000 troops and 40 tanks, nearly 40 percent of 
the island was in Turkish control in less than a month, displacing 
200,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes. Today, there are still more 
than 1,600 Greek Cypriots who remain unaccounted for, serving as silent 
reminders of the unlawful invasion. Turkey continues to defy the 
international community and United Nations' Resolutions with its policy 
towards Cyprus, keeping more than 30,000 troops in the north of the 
island.
  I believe that if we want to see future progress in resolving the 
injustices of a divided Cyprus, the United States, European and 
international organizations must put further pressure on the government 
in Ankara. It is Turkey's military and financial backing that provides 
the leverage for the Turkish Cypriot leadership and its unwillingness 
to make any compromises. Late last year, the European Union accepted 
Turkey as a candidate for admission into the 15-nation economic bloc. 
The EU has indicated that resolution on the Cyprus matter is a key 
condition to Turkey's membership, and it has outlined specific economic 
and humanitarian standards that must be accomplished. One such 
condition is an end to restrictions on the human rights of Greek 
Cypriots living in the occupied northen region. I was pleased to 
cosponsor my colleague Senator Snowe's Concurrent Resolution 9 to bring 
attention to this issue.
  Greece and Turkey are critical members of the NATO alliance and have 
both been key allies to the United States, supporting our operations in 
the Balkans and no-fly zones over Iraq. We know the two nations can 
work together in times of crisis. Last fall, following a massive 
earthquake in Turkey, Greece was among the first to send aid. Greek 
rescue teams helped pull Turkish victims from the rubble. Then Greece 
endured its own deadly quake and Turkey was quick to respond, saving 
many Greek lives. These examples of bilateral cooperation should also 
be employed by Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to demilitarize the 
island and establish a unified Cyprus with constitutional guarantees 
for all Cypriots regardless of ethnicity.
  A new round of proximity talks began on July 5, 2000 between Greek 
and Turkish Cypriot leaders in Geneva, Switzerland. These talks 
recessed on July 12 but will resume again in early August. Little 
information has been available due to the mutual observance of a press 
blackout. However, I hope that these talks will initiate commitments by 
both sides to come to an agreement.
  In the past few years we have seen remarkable progress on seemingly 
intractable international conflicts. Northern Ireland is closer to 
peace than any time in history and whatever the outcome of the current 
Middle East Summit, just the fact that Prime Minister Barak and 
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have been talking for nine days is of 
great historic significance. I believe the people of Cyprus want and 
deserve the same opportunity. This year, the Senate version of the FY01 
Foreign Operations Bill again appropriates $15 million to reduce 
tensions, promote peace and cooperation between the two communities. 
However, I think we can do more. It is my hope that my colleagues and 
the Administration will commit to actively assisting the parties in 
resolving the situation in Cyprus. Then we can commemorate the 
reunification rather then the division of this Nation.

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