[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 26 (Wednesday, March 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE PROSPECT OF PEACE IN CYPRUS

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, after decades of intercommunal violence 
between Turkey and Greece, there is now hope for peace on Cyprus.
  On February 3, President Bush met with U.N. Secretary-General Annan 
to restart the peace process. Following talks between the Greek and 
Turkish Cypriot leaders on February 13, Annan announced the resumption 
of negotiations, saying, ``I really believe that, after 40 years, a 
settlement is at last in reach.''
  Since February 19, the two sides have been discussing a U.N. peace 
plan in Cyprus. Despite predictably difficult negotiations, the Annan 
blueprint is secure. If there is no agreement by the two parties by 
March 22, Turkey and Greece will join the negotiations to broker a 
deal. If there is still no agreement by March 29, Annan will ``fill in 
the blanks,'' and Greek and Turkish Cypriots will then vote on this 
plan in separate referenda in April. If all goes well, a reunited 
Cyprus will enter the European Union on May 1.
  Having long supported peace efforts in Cyprus, the United States must 
now extend a helping hand to the Cypriots as they confront the 
difficulties of implementing an agreement. In 1984, Congress authorized 
President Reagan's $250 million Cyprus Peace and Reconstruction Fund. 
The money was not provided because we did not reach a settlement. 
Europe is home to the last ``Berlin-style'' wall in Cyprus. Let us make 
this the year that it comes down forever.

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