[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10412-S10413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, on behalf of the Greek Cypriot 
population of Rhode Island and Greek Cypriots around the world, I 
recognize the 33rd anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
  At 5:30 a.m. 33 years ago today, heavily armed Turkish troops landed 
on a narrow northern beachhead in Cyprus 5 days after Greek Cypriot 
nationalists ousted then-President Archbishop Makarios. The invasion 
and subsequent occupation was described by Turkey as a ``peace 
operation'' to protect the minority Turkish population living in Cyprus 
from being victimized in the aftermath of the coup.
  However, during the next 2 months, over 200,000 Greek Cypriots fled 
south or were expelled by Turkish forces. The Turkish Cypriots took 
over 37 percent of the island and then called a ceasefire, leaving the 
Greek Cypriots, 82 percent of the population, with under two-thirds of 
Cyprus. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared 
itself a country. Currently, Turkey is the only nation that recognizes 
this self-declaration of statehood.
  Despite international efforts over the last 30 years to reunify the 
island, Cyprus has remained divided with more than 40,000 Turkish 
troops occupying its northern third. The United Nations Security 
Council and General Assembly have worked to determine an equally 
agreeable solution, but talks between the Greek Cypriot south and the 
Turkish Cypriot north consistently end in a stalemate.
  A survey completed in February 2007 by the United Nations 
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus found that a majority of both Greek and 
Turkish Cypriot communities view the United Nations' presence on the 
island as a positive. Both see any withdrawal scenario involving the 
U.N. departing before restoration of normal conditions and a settlement 
being reached as a negative. We must applaud the continued efforts of 
the United Nations and the focus of Cypriot leaders to reunite a 
divided Cyprus and remain, ourselves, committed to ushering the 
settlement process forward. Cypriot, Mediterranean, and United States 
interests will benefit from a settlement that addresses all legitimate 
concerns of both sides and promotes the stability of a hostile region.

[[Page S10413]]

  Sirens wailed across the southern half of Cyprus today, in memory of 
the day known as ``black anniversary'' among the Greek Cypriots. 
Cypriot leaders, on both sides of the divide, must take forward steps 
to wash away the darkness of this day and replace it with peace and 
tolerance.

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