[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the gentleman from 
Florida, Mr. Bilirakis, for organizing this special order on Cyprus, 
and for allowing us to reflect on the 29th anniversary of the Turkish 
invasion of Cyprus. Cyprus has over the last three millennia faced war, 
devastation and foreign occupation. Today, we highlight the most recent 
occupation, which Cyprus has endured for 29 years.
  Although Cyprus was granted its independence by Great Britain in 
1960, as an independent republic composed of two equal communities, in 
1974, Turkey exploited a crisis brought about by a military junta to 
occupy over one third of the island.
  To this day, Turkey refuses to remove its troops, despite repeated 
condemnations by the United Nations.
  The Cyprus conflict is one of the longest lasting issues of the 
international community, which remains unresolved. This conflict has 
had devastating consequences in terms of lives lost, children orphaned, 
economic losses and psychological trauma.
  The present division of Cyprus, and the presence of 35,000 Turkish 
troops on the island, is completely unacceptable. We should not accept 
any further delays or excuses from Turkey on withdrawing from Cyprus.
  Numerous resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council 
and the UN General Assembly condemn both the Turkish invasion of Cyprus 
and the continuing presence of the Turkish military, as illegal acts of 
aggression.
  In addition to the UN, other international bodies of similar stature, 
like the European Parliament, have also voiced their opposition to the 
occupation and endorse the reunification of Cyprus as the only 
acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem.
  Faced with a unanimous condemnation by the international community, 
Turkish leaders have reverted to threats of annexation of Cyprus.
  Reports by the European Commission on Human rights state that the 
Turkish government uses Turkish newspapers to issue threats that the 
Turkish army will move to occupy the southern part of Cyprus as well, 
which is under control of the Government of the Republic.
  The human rights body of the European Commission adds that Turkey's 
puppet regime has increasingly threatened to settle, as yet unoccupied 
areas, with Turks, instead of returning these to the 35,000 lawful 
inhabitants, the Greek Cypriot refugees of Varosha.
  This cannot and will not be tolerated. The United States has put 
Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders on notice.
  Not only is it the right thing to do, but it would also benefit 
American interests in the region to help bring about an expeditious 
resolution of the tragic division of Cyprus.
  Cyprus is a valued partner in the fight against the new global 
threats of terrorism and terrorist-sponsoring regimes, proliferation, 
illegal narcotics and international crime.
  Cyprus and the United States also have shared values and a shared 
commitment to building a world based on open markets, democratic 
principles and the rule of law.
  While the Turkish stance, which clearly led to the failure of U.N.-
sponsored negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot 
communities, must change immediately, we, in Congress, will not waiver 
on our commitment for Turkish troops to end their illegal occupation of 
Cyprus once and for all, bringing to an end a tragic period in Cypriot 
history.
  As a U.S. NATO ally and European Union aspirant, Turkey should be 
held to the highest standards of compliance with its international 
obligations.
  For 29 years, Turkey has ignored the will of the United States and 
has repeatedly violated the mandates of the United Nations to cease its 
illegal occupation of Cyprus. Rather than withdrawing, it has 
reinforced its military presence.
  The moment of truth is at hand, and time has run out for Turkish and 
Turkish Cypriot leaders.
  They must undertake concrete steps to forge an agreement on the terms 
of reunification, and must do so with all deliberate speed.

                          ____________________