[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 97 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 2006

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 32nd 
anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus. Although this event took 
place 32 years ago, the situation is still one that demands attention 
and strong intervention today.
  In 1974 Turkish military forces invaded the Greek island of Cyprus 
thereby disrupting the lives of its citizens. In two waves, Turkey was 
able to seize control of more than one-third of the Island by labeling 
the invasion as a ``peace keeping operation.'' As a result, Northern 
Cyprus was divided by a 113 mile barbed fence, which thereby prevented 
Cypriots from visiting areas and communities within their country.
  Turkish presence on the island of Cyprus is in clear violation of 
repeated U.N. Security Council Resolutions. There are currently 35,000 
Turkish troops illegally stationed in Cyprus as it continues to remain 
one of the most militarized areas in the world. As a result of the 
invasion over 250,000 Greek Cypriots were subject to ethnic cleansing 
in Northern Cyprus.
  I would like to commend Congressman Bilirakis and Congresswoman 
Maloney for bringing this issue to a forefront in Congress. I sincerely 
hope that we will see a better day when the people of Cyprus who have 
been disenfranchised will receive proper treatment and regard.
  Again, I want to express my support for the true government of 
Cyprus, and I urge the United States government, the European Union and 
the United Nations to continue efforts in finding a solution to this 
unfortunate predicament.