[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 137 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 1, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 43rd 
anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. It was on this day in 1960 that 
Cyprus became an independent republic after decades of British colonial 
rule.
  I am very fortunate and privileged to represent Astoria, Queens--one 
of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot 
Americans in this country.
  It is truly one of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress to 
participate in the life of this community, and the wonderful and vital 
Cypriot friends that I have come to know are one of its greatest 
rewards.
  This year, Cyprus' Independence Day occurs at a time of great hope 
for the people of Cyprus and significant advances in U.S.-Cyprus 
relations.
  Since the last celebration of Cyprus Independence Day, Cyprus has 
experienced events of major historic importance. On April 16, 2003, 
Cyprus signed the Accession Treaty to the European Union at a special 
ceremony in Athens, Greece. Cyprus is slated officially to join the EU 
in May 2004.
  Later this month, we will welcome a new Ambassador of Cyprus, Mr. 
Euripides Evriviades, a career diplomat with a distinguished record. He 
will succeed Ambassador Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, who has left after 
five years of exemplary service during a remarkably eventful time for 
Cyprus and in our bilateral relations.
  However, the commemoration of Cyprus' Independence Day this year, as 
in the past, is clouded by the fact that 37 percent of the 
Mediterranean island nation's territory continues to be illegally 
occupied by the Turkish military forces, in violation of UN Security 
Council resolutions.
  Cyprus and the United States have a great deal in common. We share a 
deep and abiding commitment to democracy, human rights, free markets, 
and the ideal and practice of equal justice under the law.
  In fact, Cyprus was among the first nations to express its solidarity 
with the United States immediately following the September 11th 
terrorist attacks. Cyprus has taken many concrete and active steps to 
target the perpetrators, collaborators and financiers of terrorism. For 
example, Cyprus has endorsed and implemented all resolutions and 
decisions of the U.N. Security Council, the EU and other International 
Organizations pertaining to the fight against terrorism.
  Unfortunately, Cyprus is not without its own difficult history. 37 
percent of this nation is still occupied by a hostile foreign power, 
and it has been for almost thirty years.
  On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to 
maintain an estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops. Nearly 200,000 Greek 
Cypriots, who fell victim to a policy of ethnic cleansing, were 
forcibly evicted from their homes and became refugees in their own 
country.

  Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the ongoing Turkish 
occupation, Cyprus has registered remarkable economic growth, and the 
people living in the Government-controlled areas enjoy one of the 
world's highest standards of living. Sadly, the people living in the 
occupied area continue to be mired in poverty.
  Earlier this year, the Turkish occupation regime partially lifted 
restrictions on freedom of movement across the artificial line of 
division created by Turkey's military occupation. Since then, hundreds 
of thousands of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have crossed the UN 
ceasefire line to visit their homes and properties or areas of their 
own country that were inaccessible to them for nearly 30 years. The 
peaceful and cooperative spirit in the person-to-person, family-to-
family interactions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots bodes 
well for the successful reunification of Cyprus.
  In the times we are facing, it is clear that divisions among people 
create harmful, destructive environments. The U.S. has expressed its 
unwavering support for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and I 
wholeheartedly agree. The relationship between Cyprus and the United 
States is strong and enduring. We stand together celebrating democracy 
and freedom, hopeful that a peaceful solution will soon be negotiated 
and a united Cyprus will join the EU.

                          ____________________