[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E683-E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2004

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my continued support 
for the Republic of Cyprus, and to urge the Administration and the 
international community to continue working towards an agreeable 
solution to the division of the island.
  While it is certainly disappointing that the UN brokered negotiations 
on reunification were not successful, it is important that the 
responsibility for this lack of success not be placed squarely on one 
party. It was determined by the Greek-Cypriot community that the final 
version of the Annan plan was not an acceptable solution to the 
division of the island, and they therefore chose to reject the plan 
through the democratic process. The Greek-Cypriots have made it clear 
that while they did have objections to the plan that was presented 
through the referendum, they are still very much in favor of 
reunification. Given the expressed willingness of both sides to work 
towards an agreeable solution to the division of the island, it would 
be a mistake for the international community to abandon these efforts.
  The final version of the Annan plan, which was brought before both 
Cypriot communities for a referendum, was not in the best interest

[[Page E684]]

of the Greek-Cypriot citizenry. The plan placed severe restrictions on 
the number of Greek-Cypriot refugees that would be permitted to return 
to the North, restricted property rights for the Greek-Cypriots in the 
North, and would have required that the Greek-Cypriots essentially 
compensate themselves for the properties they lost as a result of the 
Turkish invasion of 1974. While the plan did significantly reduce the 
number of Turkish troops on the island, it did not provide for full 
demilitarization. In essence, this plan did more to solidify the status 
quo on the island than it did to unify the two communities.
  As Cyprus prepares to officially enter the European Union next month, 
I urge my colleagues to voice their support for full, meaningful 
membership within the EU for our Cypriot allies, as well as continued 
efforts towards an equitable reunification of the island.

                          ____________________