[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE SITUATION ON CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss the situation on 
Cyprus. The best way to commemorate the twin anniversaries of the coup 
d'etat and the following events in Cyprus 30 years ago in July 1974 is 
to make sure that they never happen again. This is only possible if the 
political problem in Cyprus between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots is 
settled once and for all. This in turn will make Cyprus a bridge of 
cooperation, rather than conflict, between Greece and Turkey, and a 
bastion of stability in the eastern Mediterranean.
  A historic opportunity was missed just a few months ago when the 
``Annan Plan'' was rejected by the Greek Cypriots by a margin of 3 to 
1, while it was accepted by the Turkish Cypriots with a clear majority 
of 65 percent in separate referenda. The United States, the European 
Union, Turkey and Greece had given strong support to the Plan as a 
reasonable compromise.
  According to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's recent report to the 
Security Council regarding the results of the referenda, ``the Turkish 
Cypriot vote has undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating 
them.'' Annan also called on U.N. Security Council members to ``give a 
strong lead to all States to cooperate both bilaterally and in 
international bodies, to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and 
barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and 
impeding their development.''
  Having demonstrated their conciliatory spirit by letting bygones be 
bygones, the Turkish Cypriots rightly expect to be reintegrated with 
the international community in economic, cultural, social and other 
fields. U.S. and EU assistance to Turkish Cypriots to help them 
rehabilitate their economy and ease their isolation has been 
forthcoming but modest. I believe the Turkish Cypriots need and deserve 
our help in their struggle for justice and a better future.

                          ____________________