[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 116 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1561-E1562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       33RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ILLEGAL TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, as co-chair and co-founder 
of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise today to 
commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion 
of Cyprus. I have commemorated this day each year since I became a 
Member of Congress.
  PSEKA (The International Coordinating Committee ``Justice for 
Cyprus''), The Cyprus Federation of America, SAE (World Council of 
Hellenes Abroad), and The Federation of Hellenic Societies are 
primarily located in the 14th Congressional District of New York, which 
I am fortunate to represent.
  These organizations have been strong advocates against the division 
of Cyprus and the human rights violations perpetrated by the Turkish 
army in Cyprus.
  For the past several years, the Hellenic Caucus has been very engaged 
on the issues facing Cyprus. Many members of the Caucus remain 
concerned about the continued occupation and division of the Republic 
of Cyprus. Turkey illegally invaded Cyprus in 1974. As a result of the 
Turkish invasion and occupation, 160,000 Greek Cypriots, amounting to 
70 percent of the population of the occupied area and over a quarter of 
the total population, were forcibly expelled from their homes and 
approximately 5,000 Cypriots were killed. More than 1,400 Greek 
Cypriots, including four Americans of Cypriot descent, remain missing 
and unaccounted for since the Turkish invasion. Today, 33 years later, 
Turkey continues forcibly to occupy more than one-third of Cyprus with 
more than 43,000 Turkish troops. The peaceful and cooperative spirit in 
the person-to-person, family-to-family interactions between Greek 
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots is an encouraging sign for the successful 
reunification of Cyprus. However, it is time for Turkey to remove its 
troops from the island so that Cyprus can move forward as one nation.
  As a full-fledged member of the European Union, Cyprus is playing a 
vital role in European affairs while also strengthening relations with 
the United States. It has joined with us on issues important to our own 
security, including the fight against terrorism and other forms of 
international crimes. Cyprus was the first EU member to join the ship 
boarding protocol of President Bush's Proliferation Security 
Initiative, particularly important because Cyprus has one of the 
world's largest commercial shipping registries. As Cyprus developed 
into a regional financial center, the government moved aggressively and 
put in place strong anti-money laundering legislation.
  On July 8, 2006, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos 
Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to 
immediately begin a process of establishing bi-communal technical 
committees and working groups. This UN-brokered agreement 
also emphasized the need for confidence-building measures to make this 
process successful. Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriot side has not 
reciprocated the positive approach taken by the Cyprus Government. 
President Papadopoulos proposed a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot 
leader Mr. Talat to jumpstart the process and move forward with the 
agreement. Mr. Talat initially accepted this invitation but on July 
12th decided to cancel. I hope that the Turkish side will reconsider 
this decision so that the July 8th agreement can proceed.

  On March 8, 2007, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus demolished 
a wall at Ledra Street in Nicosia, a key thoroughfare through the 
divided capital, as a gesture to facilitate the opening of Ledra Street 
as a crossing point. I have introduced H. Res. 407, which expresses the 
strong support of the House of Representatives for the positive actions 
by the Republic of Cyprus aimed at opening additional crossing points 
along the cease-fire line, thereby contributing to efforts for the 
reunification of the island. Once Turkey removes its occupation forces 
from the adjacent area and other issues of safety and security have 
been addressed, the citizens of Cyprus will be free to travel Ledra 
Street as they had generations ago.
  I also strongly support legislation introduced by my colleagues 
including H.R. 1456, introduced by Representative Pallone, which would 
enable U.S. citizens who own property in the Turkish-occupied territory 
of the Republic of Cyprus to seek financial remedies with

[[Page E1562]]

either the current inhabitants of their land or the Turkish government, 
and H. Res. 405, introduced by Representative Bilirakis, which 
expresses the strong support of the House of Representatives for the 
implementation of the UN-brokered July 8, 2006, agreement as the way 
forward to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations for the 
reunification of Cyprus.
  The people of Cyprus deserve a unified and democratic country, and I 
remain hopeful that a peaceful settlement will be found so that the 
division of Cyprus will come to an end.
  In recognition of the spirit of the people of Cyprus, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in solemnly commemorating the 33rd anniversary of 
the invasion of Cyprus.
  Long Live Freedom.
  Long Live Cyprus.
  Long Live Greece.

                          ____________________