[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 143 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12067-S12068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 331--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT TURKEY
SHOULD END ITS MILITARY OCCUPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE TURKEY'S PRETEXT HAS BEEN REFUTED BY OVER
13,000,000 CROSSINGS OF THE DIVIDE BY TURKISH-CYPRIOTS AND GREEK
CYPRIOTS INTO EACH OTHER'S COMMUNITIES WITHOUT INCIDENT
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Ms. Snowe) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 331
Whereas it is in the best interests of the United States,
Turkey, Cyprus, the European Union, and NATO for Turkey to
adhere to United Nations resolutions and United States and
European Union policy and end its military occupation of the
Republic of Cyprus;
Whereas 13,000,000 crossings of the divide by Turkish-
Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots into each other's communities
without incident qualifies Cyprus' ethnic community relations
to be among the world's safest, regardless of circumstances;
Whereas, unlike age-old ethnic frictions in the region,
Cyprus has historically been an oasis of generally peaceful
relations among ethnic communities, as is reflected in many
[[Page S12068]]
Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot emigrants seeking each
other as neighbors in places like Great Britain;
Whereas United States interests, regional stability, and
relations between United States allies Greece and Turkey will
improve with an end to the occupation of Cyprus;
Whereas Turkey's European Union accession prospects, which
require approval by each European Union nation, will improve
if Turkey ends its hostile occupation of Cyprus, a European
Union nation;
Whereas Turkey's image for religious tolerance will improve
by removing troops that have allowed, as German Chancellor
and European Union President Angela Merkel recently said,
``destruction of churches or other religious sites'' under
their control; and
Whereas overlooking Turkey's occupation of Cyprus injures
the moral standing of the United States internationally and
doesn't help the image of the United States in Turkey, which
recently ranked last in a 47-nation Pew survey for favorable
views of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) calls on the United States Government to initiate a new
effort to help Turkey understand the benefits that will
accrue to it as a result of ending its military occupation of
Cyprus;
(2) urges the Government of Turkey to immediately begin the
withdrawal of its military occupation forces from the
Republic of Cyprus; and
(3) urges the Government of Turkey to complete the
withdrawal of its occupation forces in the near future so
that Turkey, Cyprus, the region, and the United States can
begin realizing the benefits of the end of that occupation.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I am here to offer a resolution which
calls on Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its troops from
Cyprus and end its military occupation. Turkish troops have now been in
Cyprus for over 33 years. The number of these troops has increased over
the last three decades so that there are now more than 43,000, making
this area one of the most militarized in the world.
Let me be clear. There is no legitimate justification for the 43,000
Turkish troops to be in Cyprus. Cyprus is a peaceful country. Millions
of people have been crossing the buffer zone without incident for
years. There are no military attacks and there is no need for military
protection of Turkish Cypriots. In the end, these troops only serve to
create military tension. Again, there is absolutely no legitimate
justification for this military occupation.
In fact, Cyprus has historically been an oasis of generally peaceful
relations. When Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots emigrate to Great
Britain from Cyprus, they often seek to live next to each other as
neighbors.
This resolution highlights these examples and uses them as evidence
to urge Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its military
occupation. And it notes the importance of Turkey fulfilling this as
soon as possible so that Turkey, Cyprus, the region and the United
States can work more closely on other strategic issues.
This resolution, in addition, calls on the U.S. Government to
initiate a new effort to help Turkey understand the benefits of ending
its military occupation of Cyprus. Such benefits include: Improving
Turkey's European Union accession prospects; improving regional
stability; improving relations with Greece; improving relations with
the United States and; improving Turkey's image on religious tolerance.
It is also in the best interest of the U.S., the European Union, and
NATO for Turkey to end its military occupation of the Republic of
Cyprus. Sadly, Turkey ranked last in a recent 47-nation Pew survey for
favorable views of the U.S. Ending their occupation will offer more
opportunities for U.S.-Turkey cooperation which will only improve our
image in this key U.S. ally.
For the U.S. to remain silent during this unjust occupation injures
our moral standing internationally. Because silence is complicity, we
must speak out.
That is why I am proud to be the lead on this resolution with Senator
Snowe which calls on Turkey to end its unjust military occupation in
Cyprus.
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