[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E610-E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING THE ARRESTS OF OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBERS IN NORTHERN CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 27, 2003

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker. I rise before you today to condemn the 
recent acts of the Turkish-Cypriot leadership. Only two weeks after 
denying their citizens the right to conduct a referendum vote on 
acceptance of the UN plan for reunification of the island, the 
illegitimate Turkish-Cypriot government has once again denied the will 
of its constituency.
  In response to Rauf Denktash's refusal to allow a referendum vote, an 
opposition party in Northern Cyprus, the United Cyprus Party, planned 
to hold its own vote to explicitly demonstrate the desire of Turkish-
Cypriots for a resolution to the Cyprus Question. Under the direction 
of Mr. Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot police surrounded the village of 
Elia, and forcefully ensured that the vote could not take place. The 
General Secretary of the United Cyprus Party, Izzet lzcan, was arrested 
in the incident along with five trade unionists.

[[Page E611]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Members of the House of Representatives 
join me in condemning these acts which took place at the hands of the 
illegal Turkish-Cypriot regime. Mr. Denktash has already harmed the 
people he is supposed to represent by denying them the opportunity to 
unite with their Greek-Cypriot neighbors and join the European Union in 
April, and it is absolutely detestable to see him silencing the will of 
his citizens once again. I urge my fellow colleagues to continue 
offering their support to the people of Cyprus, and request that the 
United Nations persevere in their efforts to bring about a fair and 
agreeable resolution to the longstanding division of the Republic of 
Cyprus.

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