[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H4623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1974 ILLEGAL TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege 
to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish 
invasion of Cyprus. I have commemorated this day each year since I have 
become a Member of Congress; and, unfortunately, each year the 
occupation continues.
  The continued presence of Turkish troops represents a gross violation 
of human rights and international law. Since their invasion of Cyprus 
in July of 1974, Turkish troops have continued to occupy 37 percent of 
the island. This is in direct defiance of numerous U.N. resolutions and 
has been a major source of instability in the eastern Mediterranean.
  Recent events have created an atmosphere where there is now no valid 
excuse to avoid resolving this long-standing problem.
  Peace in this region cannot happen without continued and sustained 
U.S. leadership, which is why I am heartened that President Bush, like 
his predecessor, President Clinton, is committed to working for 
reunification of Cyprus.
  He recently stated, and I quote, ``I want you to know that the United 
States stands ready to help Greece and Turkey as they work to improve 
their relations. I'm also committed to a just and lasting settlement of 
the Cyprus dispute.''
  I was also encouraged to read last week that the European Union 
considers the status quo in Cyprus unacceptable and has called on the 
Turkish Cypriot side to resume the U.N.-led peace process as soon as 
possible with a view toward finding a comprehensive settlement.
  Now is the time for a solution. More than 20 years ago, in 1977, in 
1979, the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities reached 
two high-level agreements which provided for the establishment of a 
bicommunal, bizonal federation.
  Even though these agreements were endorsed by the U.N. Security 
Council, there has been no action on the Turkish side to fill in the 
details and reach a final agreement. Instead, for the last 27 years, 
there has been a Turkish Cypriot leader presiding over a regime 
recognized only by Turkey and condemned as ``legally invalid'' by the 
U.N. Security Council in Resolution 541 and 550.
  Cyprus has been divided by the green line, a 113-mile barbed wire 
fence that runs across the island, and Greek Cypriots are prohibited 
from visiting the towns and communities where their families have lived 
for generations.
  With 35,000 Turkish troops illegally stationed on the island, it is 
one of the most militarized areas in the world. This situation has also 
meant the financial decline of the once rich northern part of Cyprus to 
just one-quarter of its former earnings.
  Perhaps the single most destructive element of Turkey's fiscal and 
foreign policy is its nearly 27-year occupation of Cyprus. We now have 
an atmosphere where there is no valid excuse for not resolving this 
long-standing problem.
  Cyprus is set for movement into the European Union in 2004. I am 
hopeful that this reality will act as a catalyst for a lasting solution 
of the Cyprus challenge. EU membership for Cyprus will clearly provide 
important economic, political, and social benefits for all Cypriots, 
both Greek and Turkish alike. This is why both sides must return to the 
negotiating table without any conditions.
  There is also a new climate of cooperation between Turkey's Ismail 
Cem and Greece's George Pappandreou, and this is a very positive sign. 
More has been achieved in a year than what has been achieved in the 
past 40 years, but this cooperation needs to extend to the resolution 
of the Cyprus occupation.
  While the U.S., the EU, Greece, and Cyprus have all acted to 
accommodate Turkish concerns, it remains to be seen whether Turkey will 
put pressure on Rauf Denktash to bargain in good faith. Make no mistake 
about it, if Turkey wants the Cyprus problem resolved, it will not let 
Denktash stand in its way.
  Now is the time for a solution. It will take diligent work by both 
sides, but with U.S. support and leadership I am hopeful that we will 
reach a peaceful and fair solution soon.
  Twenty-seven years is too long to have a country divided. It is too 
long to be kept from your home. It is too long to be separated from 
your family.
  We have seen many tremendous changes around the world. The Berlin 
Wall came down. There are steps towards peace in Ireland. It is now 
time to add Cyprus to the list of places where peace and freedom have 
triumphed.

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