[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR RENEWED EFFORT TO FIND PEACEFUL, JUST, AND 
                LASTING SETTLEMENT TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 165.
  I want to thank my good friend Doug Bereuter, Chairman of the Sub-
Committee on Europe for his leadership on keeping the issue of Cyprus 
on the table.
  With so much focus on Iraq, it would be easy to forget about other 
true multilateral efforts to support peace and stability in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, some may wonder why the issue of peacefully re-uniting 
Cyprus (a nation divided for nearly 30 years) is important for 
Americans and for the world?
  For many Greek and Turkish-Americans this international issue is 
deeply personal because it directly affects loved ones.
  In spite of the recent setback, Cyprus does represent one of the 
better examples of how America and Europe, working in cooperation, can 
help resolve international disputes.
  While we share the disappointment that the United Nations-led effort 
to craft a comprehensive settlement for Cyprus was not successful, it 
does not change the fact, that the effort itself represents a shining 
example of how important and relevant the United Nations truly is to 
pursuing peace and stability in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, for smaller nations in the world, which don't have 
strategically important resources, and live next to more powerful 
states, who have even more powerful allies, the United Nations and 
international law represents one of their only shields of defense, one 
of their best pillars of stability, and a means by which their voice is 
heard in the international community.
  House Resolution 165 allows this Congress to say to Americans, the 
citizens of Cyprus, and the people of the world that we stand with all 
those who wish for a re-united Cyprus that is prosperous, democratic 
and stable; and that global cooperation remains the best path for 
peacefully making that wish come true.

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