[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CYPRUS SETTLEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement on Cyprus that 
protects the rights of Turkish and Greek Cypriots alike.
  As the people of Cyprus head to the polls on April 24th to vote on 
the settlement plan put forth by United Nations Secretary General Kofi 
Annan, I am concerned that numerous provisions in the proposal fail to 
uphold the fundamental rights of the Greek Cypriot community.
  Since Turkey's invasion and illegal occupation of northern Cyprus in 
1974, the government of Cyprus has vigorously pursued efforts to 
reunify the island through an equitable and viable settlement. While 
the Turkish Cypriot government under the leadership of Rauf Denktash 
has repeatedly stonewalled negotiations, the commitment of Greek-
Cypriots to a unified Cyprus has been unwavering.
  The Annan plan, which was originally drafted by the Secretary General 
in November of 2002, has undergone five major revisions to accommodate 
the demands of Mr. Denktash. I'm concerned that the proposal sacrifices 
too many of the Greek Cypriots' needs in return for Mr. Denktash's 
acquiescence.
  The Annan plan would authorize Turkish troops to remain in Cyprus 
indefinitely, threatening the security and stability of the island. 
While the number of troops would gradually decrease to 650 over a 
period of 14 years, their continuing presence and intervention rights 
would prevent Cyprus from achieving full sovereignty.
  I am also concerned that the Annan plan would continue to allow 
Turkish settlers to illegally occupy northern Cyprus. Numerous U.N. 
Security Council resolutions have called for the withdrawal of all 
Turkish settlers from Cyprus, yet the Annan plan would permit 45,000 
settlers to receive automatic citizenship rights within the United 
Cyprus Republic and additional settlers to remain on the island as 
permanent residents.
  Moreover, the Annan plan imposes tough restrictions on the right of 
displaced Greek-Cypriots to return to their homes. The agreement would 
prohibit Greek-Cypriots from accounting for more than eighteen percent 
of the population of the Turkish Cypriot Constituent State for the 
first nineteen years, or until Turkey accedes to the European Union, 
even though it is their native soil. These Greek-Cypriots would not 
have the right to vote for representatives in the federal Senate, 
further denying fundamental rights to many citizens.
  Finally, the Annan plan fails to adequately compensate displaced 
Greek-Cypriots for the loss of their property. According to the plan, 
90 percent of the compensation from the federal State would be paid for 
by Greek-Cypriots, meaning that Greek-Cypriot taxpayers are forced to 
pay for the loss of their own property.
  The Annan plan is a positive starting point on the path toward a 
negotiated settlement, but it is not an ending point. In order for a 
solution to the Cyprus problem to succeed, the rights of both parties 
must be equally guaranteed.

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