[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E505-E506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CYPRUS TALKS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, last week the world witnessed a tragic 
setback in the search for a peaceful settlement on the Island of 
Cyprus. Nearly 30 years after Turkish troops invaded and occupied 
approximately one-third of the territory of Cyprus, the United Nations' 
efforts to achieve a negotiated solution appeared to have a real chance 
for success. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan convened the leaders of 
the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to a meeting at the 
Hague last week, and asked them to agree to hold a democratic vote on 
the U.N.'s plan to establish a bi-communal federation. The President of 
the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, speaking for the Greek 
Cypriot community, agreed to the referendum, despite reservations with 
the details of the plan. Unfortunately, Mr. Rauf Denktash, the Turkish 
Cypriot leader, rejected it, out-of-hand.
  Mr. Denktash's veto of the U.N. peace plan was not only a rejection 
of the efforts of the world organization, and the interests of its 
member states, but most importantly, in direct

[[Page E506]]

contradiction with the interests of the Turkish Cypriots themselves. 
This community has recognized that they have the most to gain from 
reunification, and have strongly supported the U.N. plan, as 
demonstrated by unprecedented popular expressions of support from 
within the community. Mr. Denktash has thwarted the will of the people 
he purports to represent.
  The reunification of Cyprus would help to enhance the local and 
regional stability of this island nation located a little more than a 
100 miles from Israel, Lebanon and Syria, to the benefit of all of 
Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, the U.S., E.U. and the whole world body. 
Reunification would be a great boon economically to the Turkish 
Cypriots, as the Greek Cypriot community is about to join the E.U. and 
command the many political and economic advantages of membership in 
that cgmmunity. A settlement would have allowed the Turkish Cypriots to 
join in those benefits. Failure has condemned them to suffer without.
  If the civilian and military leaders in Ankara were serious about 
achieving a negotiated settlement on Cyprus, they could clearly prevail 
upon Mr. Denktash to deal in good faith. By doing so, Turkey would not 
only be helping the Turkish Cypriots, but would be acting in its own 
self-interest, as Turkey's own bid for E.U. membership hinges to a 
significant degree on its playing a constructive role in ending the 
division of Cyprus. On March 4th of this year, the E.U. warned Turkey 
that ``if Cyprus settlement efforts failed, the E.U. would find it very 
difficult to start accession talks with Turkey'' since Turkey would 
find itself in the untenable position of not only failing to recognize 
a member of the E.U.--Turkey still does not recognize the Republic of 
Cyprus--but also occupying militarily part of E.U. territory.
  As in any process of negotiations, both sides have to give up 
something. The Greek Cypriot side has, over the years, made one 
concession after another in the search for peace. The most recent plan 
put forward by Secretary General Annan forced the Government of the 
Republic of Cyprus to make many difficult decisions. Still, at the end 
of the day, President Papadopoulos--who was just recently elected in 
free and fair elections--was willing to put the Plan before the people 
in a democratic manner.

  On the other hand, Mr. Denktash, who has been in power for three 
decades, was unwilling to concede on his demand for two separate 
states--a goal completely contrary to the reunification favored by the 
people of Cyprus and the entire world community. Mr. Denktash is 
apparently afraid of what his own people would say when given a chance 
to express their views at the ballot box.
  This latest setback need not be a fatal one for the peace process of 
Cyprus. President Papadopoulos has left the door wide open to resuming 
the process of negotiations. After the Hague meeting, President 
Papadopoulos said that the Greek Cypriot side will ``continue the 
efforts for reaching a solution to the Cyprus question both before and 
after Cyprus joins the E.U.'' Furthermore, on his return from the Hague 
to Cyprus, Mr. Papadopoulos pledged one more time to ``continue the 
efforts for a Cyprus settlement that would properly serve the interests 
of both Cyprus communities, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,'' 
adding that there ``are no last chances'' for a Cyprus solution.
  Our State Department has been clear in expressing its disappointment 
over Mr. Denktash's rejection of the U.N. referendum proposal, and in 
voicing hope that the process can resume. But now it's time for our 
government to put the necessary pressure on Mr. Denktash and the 
government of Turkey to negotiate in good faith and agree to a 
referendum. Continued obstructionism by Mr. Denktash should trigger 
coordinated U.N. sanctions against the Turkish Cypriot leader. The new 
government of Turkey must recognize its share of responsibility in the 
current stalemate, and show leadership in guiding Mr. Denktash back to 
the path of peace . If Turkey refuses to accept that responsibility, 
and Mr. Denktash continues his intransigence, the government of the 
U.S. must consider those policy prescriptions, of the highest orders, 
to bring the parties back to the table. The peace of the region, and 
the well-being of the Cypriot people, are too important to allow Mr. 
Denktash to destroy all our hopes for peace.

                          ____________________