[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 39 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E575-E576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Greek-Americans on the occasion of Greek Independence Day, and wish all 
people of Greek descent across the globe, peace, happiness and 
prosperity. In the same spirit of friendship and brotherhood, I ask all 
of my Greek friends to use this joyous occasion to renew their 
commitment to peace by doing all that they can to facilitate and 
promote the end of the long-standing stalemate on the beautiful 
Mediterranean island, Cyprus.
  Recent remarks made by Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis with 
regards to Greece's support for the resumption of negotiations on the 
Cyprus question along the lines of the United Nations' Plan for a 
settlement (the ``Annan Plan'') are deeply encouraging, and should be 
supported by the international community and the United States. 
Greece's role in facilitating negotiations under U.N. auspices and 
convincing the Greek Cypriot side,

[[Page E576]]

under the leadership of President Tassos Papadopoulos, to return to the 
negotiating table cannot be understated.
  Now, the time is right for peace and reconciliation on the island. 
The Turkish Cypriots have already declared that they are ready and 
willing to sit down and discuss the ``Annan Plan''--a plan they 
overwhelmingly supported in the referendum held on April 24, 2004--with 
their Greek Cypriot counterparts. I fervently hope, Mr. Speaker, that 
all sides will seize the opportunity of Greek Independence Day to come 
together in a spirit of friendship and cooperation to achieve the final 
and lasting peace that has so long eluded the people of Cyprus.

                          ____________________