[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1799-E1800]
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

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor of the 44th 
Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. It was on October 1, 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.
  Since the last celebration of Cyprus Independence Day, Cyprus has 
experienced events of major historic importance. On May 1, Cyprus 
became a full-fledged member of the European Union along with nine 
other countries from Central and Eastern Europe.

[[Page E1800]]

Cyprus's accession to the EU is a historic achievement. As an EU 
member, Cyprus will represent European values and policies and, at the 
same time, will work toward even stronger transatlantic ties with the 
United States. This has been a long time in coming, and I believe that 
Cyprus will have much to contribute to the EU.
  However, the commemoration of Cyprus' Independence Day this year, as 
in the past, is clouded by the fact that the Mediterranean island 
nation's territory continues to be illegally occupied by the Turkish 
military forces, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. 
Unfortunately, the proposed UN reunification plan did not provide for a 
functional or durable solution to the island's division. Seventy-six 
percent of Greek Cypriot voters opposed it, citing concerns about 
security, property restitution, and the structure of the proposed 
government.
  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 U.S. 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 30 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.
  Last year, the Turkish occupation regime partially lifted 
restrictions on freedom of movement across the artificial line of 
division created by Turkey's military occupation. 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. We must find a peaceful 
solution to the Cyprus problem. The relationship between Cyprus and the 
United States is strong and enduring, and we stand together celebrating 
democracy and freedom.

                          ____________________