[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E541-E542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 2002

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this week, we welcome a distinguished 
visitor to our nation's capital: the Honorable Demetris Christofias, 
President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.
  Mr. Christofias began his trip to the U.S. late last week with a stop 
in New York, where he paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 
terrorist attacks on September 11th. Visiting Ground Zero, where the 
World Trade Center had stood, Mr. Christofias condemned all terrorist 
attacks, and reaffirmed Cyprus' support in the fight against terrorism.
  During his visit to Washington, Mr. Christofias will be meeting with 
Members of Congress, top Administration officials, other key policy 
makers, and leaders of the Cypriot-American community. As elected 
representatives who serve in this great Body, it is a privilege to 
receive visits from our counterparts serving in the legislative bodies 
of other countries--particularly when the visitor represents a country 
with which we enjoy very friendly relations, have so much in common and 
in which we have so many important interests.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Demetris Christofias was elected 
President of the House of Representatives on June 7, 2001. Based on the 
1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the President of the House 
of Representatives performs the duties of the President of the Republic 
in the event of a temporary absence or incapacity of the President. He 
is also President of the Executive Committee on Selection, and 
President of the Executive Committees of the groups representing Cyprus 
in the Inter-parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary 
Association. He is also a member of the National Council, a supreme 
advisory body to the President of the Republic.
  Representative Christofias was first elected as a member of the House 
of Representatives in 1991, and was subsequently re-elected in 1996 and 
2001. He was born on August 29, 1946, in the village of Dhikomo of the 
district of Kyrenia, an area under military occupation by Turkey since 
1974. From a very young age, he has been active in political and civic 
organizations in Cyprus. He now lives in Nicosia and is married to 
Elsie Chiratou. They have two daughters and a son.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republic of Cyprus is an important friend and 
partner of the United States. Our countries share a commitment to 
democracy, human rights, free markets and the ideal and practice of 
equal justice under law.
  The Republic of Cyprus also stands with the United States and the 
rest of the civilized world in the war against international terrorism. 
Within hours of the terrorist attacks of September 11, Cypriot leaders 
expressed their strong condemnation of the acts, their solidarity with 
the American people, and their commitment to working with the United 
States in the ongoing campaign against terrorism on many fronts. Since 
then, Cyprus has taken many substantive steps as part of the coalition 
against terrorism, including giving blanket clearances for U.S. 
military aircraft to fly over Cyprus and use its airports, sharing 
intelligence with and providing legal assistance to U.S. agencies, and 
increasing security at seaports, airports and the American Embassy in 
Cyprus's capital, Nicosia. Cyprus has also implemented UN Security 
Council Resolution 1373 to freeze bank accounts and other assets of 
terrorists and their supporters, ratified and implemented the 
International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of 
Terrorism, and is conducting investigations to determine if individuals 
or organizations named in President Bush's Executive Order hold assets 
in Cyprus, with a goal toward freezing those assets.
  Mr. Speaker, the future for the Republic of Cyprus looks extremely 
bright. Cyprus is currently considered a leading candidate country to 
join the European Union in the EU's next round of enlargement. The 
United States has strongly supported Cyprus's EU bid. EU membership 
will bring significant benefits to both

[[Page E542]]

the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities, including new 
economic opportunities, access to new markets, a freer exchange of 
goods and services, balanced and sustainable development as well as the 
free movement of persons, goods, and services and capital.
  But, regrettably, Mr. Speaker, despite its almost miraculous economic 
achievements, Cyprus must continue to endure the occupation of 37 
percent of its territory by a hostile foreign power. On July 20, 1974, 
Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to maintain an 
estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops. Nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots, 
who fell victim to a policy of ethnic cleansing, were forcibly evicted 
from their homes and became refugees in their own country. Every year, 
on or about July 20, in what has become one of Congress's proudest 
traditions, Members of Congress rise to remember the anniversary of the 
Turkish invasion. Congress has also adopted Resolutions stating that 
the status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable, and calling for international 
efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of international 
law. Administrations of both political parties have worked in support 
of the UN-sponsored peace process.
  In recent months, hopes have been raised that a just and durable 
solution to the Cyprus problem can be reached. The President of the 
Republic of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides, has been holding direct talks 
with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, since the beginning of 
this year. The third round of these talks has resumed this month, with 
the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus overseeing the 
negotiations. I am confident that the leadership of the Republic of 
Cyprus will continue to negotiate in good faith until a comprehensive 
settlement is reached, as they have tried to do all along. I hope the 
Turkish Cypriot leadership will respond by putting aside its 
unreasonable and unacceptable demands, and negotiate in good faith.
  The United States has a significant security, economic and moral 
interest in seeing that a settlement is achieved. The U.S. also 
supports Cyprus's accession to the EU. Indeed, it is to be hoped that 
the ongoing EU accession process for Cyprus--which will continue to 
advance whether or not a comprehensive settlement is reached--will help 
to lead to a comprehensive settlement.
  Last year, a bipartisan Resolution was introduced in the House 
expressing the sense of Congress that security, reconciliation, and 
prosperity for all Cypriots can be best achieved within the context of 
membership in the European Union which will provide significant rights 
and obligations for all Cypriots, and for other purposes. That 
Resolution now has 73 co-sponsors, showing the strong support of this 
Body for Cyprus' accession to the EU.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in 
welcoming Representative Christofias to our capital and to our country.

                          ____________________