[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1605-E1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             29TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my encouragement on 
behalf and to the international community for their continued efforts 
at resolving the Cyprus crisis. Twenty-nine years ago, without 
justification, and against international law, Turkish armed forces 
invaded the nation of Cyprus and today because of a lack of willingness 
from the Turkish Cypriot leadership; the international community's goal 
of attained peace is yet to be achieved.
  I want to commend United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan for his 
committed efforts to resolving this issue. From the international 
community's perspective, on several occasions there has been an 
initiative to resolve this issue, and yet because of the unwillingness 
of the Turkish Cypriot leadership and specifically Mr. Rauf Denktash, 
negotiations have collapsed. The most recent negotiations held this 
past March shows a prime example of unwillingness on the Turkish side. 
During the negotiations, Republic of Cyprus President Tassos 
Papadopoulos, accepted the Annan Plan aimed at reunifying Cyprus. 
However, Mr. Denktash bluntly rejected the plan, therefore denying his 
own Turkish Cypriot citizens the right to vote on the issue. In early 
April, after the meeting, Secretary General Annan issued a report to 
the Security Council, firmly declaring that Mr. Denktash bears the sole 
responsibility that lead to the failure of the UN effort.
  Additionally, Mr. Speaker, there are several strong warnings in the 
form of protests for the UN peace process, that the Turkish Cypriot 
community does not support Mr. Denktash's obstructionist approach to 
governing their community.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge Congress to support the continued 
efforts of the United Nations led by Secretary General Annan, to bring

[[Page E1606]]

peace and the reunification of Cyprus, through talks between the 
International community and the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The world 
must hold the Turkish Cypriot Leadership and specifically Mr. Denktash 
responsible for their actions. If this issue is not resolved, the 
people of Cyprus will not be re-united. These are the same Turkish 
Cypriots who support the reunification of Cyprus and the same Turkish 
Cypriots who Mr. Denktash thinks he is leading. Let Mr. Denktash know, 
that if he does not endorse the UN peace process, he will be doing a 
great disservice to his own people.
  I thank the Speaker for allowing me to address the House today to 
express my concerns to my fellow colleagues regarding this issue.

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