[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H7961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S ILLEGAL INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, tonight I join some of my colleagues on the 
House floor to remember a horrific act taken by Turkey against the 
citizens of Cyprus 30 years ago. On July 20, 1974, the nation of Turkey 
violated international law when it brutally invaded the sovereign 
Republic of Cyprus. Following the Turkish invasion, 200,000 people were 
forcibly displaced from their homes, and a large number of Cypriots, 
who were captured during the invasion, are still missing today.
  Until 3 years ago, both Democratic and Republican administrations 
here in the U.S. consistently condemned the Turkish government for its 
illegal occupation and pressured the government to come to the 
negotiating table in an attempt to finally reunify Cyprus.
  Past administrations understood that the invading nation of Turkey 
was to blame for the division and should therefore be punished 
accordingly. As a result, past administration specifically forbid trade 
with the illegal government of the occupied north. Our government also 
prohibited direct flights into the occupied north. As long as Turkey 
continued its intransigence and refused to leave Cyprus, U.S. 
administrations correctly believed they should not be rewarded.
  While this has been consistent U.S. policy, I have grown increasingly 
concerned that over the past 3 years we have witnessed a blatant shift 
in Cypriot policy from the Bush administration, specifically from 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Bush administration is 
punishing Cyprus for overwhelmingly voting in a democratic election 
against the United Nations Annan Plan.
  The U.S. State Department and Secretary Rice seem more interested in 
rewarding those who illegally occupied the northern third of the nation 
back in 1974, than in actually reunifying the island. Over the past 2 
years, our State Department decided to allow Americans to fly into the 
occupied north in direct violation of international law and the law of 
the Republic of Cyprus.
  I joined many of my colleagues from the Congressional Hellenic Caucus 
in objecting to this action. The State Department responded by saying 
that it was interested in encouraging the elimination of unnecessary 
restrictions and barriers that isolate and impede the economic 
development of the Turkish Cypriot community.
  Unfortunately, it didn't end there. The State Department pursued the 
option of resuming trade with the occupied north, a direct violation of 
both domestic law in Cyprus and international law.
  I am deeply concerned that the State Department's drastic policy 
reversal towards the government, and the people of the occupied north, 
will only delay reunification of the entire island. If the U.S. allows 
direct trade through routes in the north, what incentives do the 
illegal occupiers have to make any concessions? It's as if the State 
Department has completely forgotten who is responsible for the invasion 
of Cyprus in the first place.
  Mr. Speaker, the Annan Plan was unfair to the Cypriots in many ways, 
but the issues of property were the ones of most concern to many of the 
Cypriot Americans that I have talked to. Cypriot Americans are among 
the refugees that are being denied access to their property by Turkey.
  Since these Americans cannot return to their illegally seized 
property, I believe these Cypriot Americans should be allowed to seek 
financial remedies with either the current inhabitants of the land or 
the Turkish government itself.
  Earlier this year I introduced the bipartisan American Owned Property 
in Occupied Cyprus Claims Act. This legislation authorizes the 
President to initiate a claims program under which the claims of U.S. 
nationals, who Turkey has excluded from their property, can be judged 
before the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission.
  If this commission determined that Cypriot Americans should be 
compensated for their property, negotiations would then take place 
between the U.S. and Turkey to determine the proper compensation. My 
legislation would also empower U.S. district courts to hear causes of 
action against either the individuals who now occupy those properties 
or the Turkish government.
  For 35 years now the people of Cyprus have been denied their 
independence and freedom because of a foreign aggressor. I urge all of 
my colleagues to join me in remembering what the Cypriot people have 
suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of the Turks.
  I also urge my colleagues to join me in pressuring the Bush 
administration to return to a policy that once again takes into 
consideration that entire 33-year history of this conflict. The people 
of Cyprus deserve nothing less.

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