[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATE PEACE EFFORTS ON CYPRUS WITH PROGRESS, NOT PARADES

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2008

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, Turkish Cypriots in the northern 
region of Cyprus mark every July 20th as the anniversary of Turkey's 
military intervention in that country in 1974. In fact, as part of the 
``Peace and Freedom Day'' celebration this year, the Turkish Naval 
Frigate ``Gelibolu'' reportedly anchored off the northern region of 
Cyprus and the ``Turkish Stars''--Turkey's military jet acrobatics 
team--performed in the skies over northern Cyprus.
  For over three decades, significant international efforts have been 
undertaken to peacefully reunify the island nation of Cyprus. The new 
Cypriot government is currently working hard to engage with the 
leadership of the Turkish Cypriots and find a way to end the division 
of Cyprus, once and for all. Nevertheless, a date for new reunification 
talks has yet to be set, barricades still stand across the island, and 
the government of Turkey continues to withhold its public support for 
the talks and has yet to remove its military presence on Cyprus.
  Madam Speaker, these displays this past weekend by the Turkish 
military are unproductive, coming, as they do, at a time when the 
status of Cyprus remains in limbo. Cyprus cannot remain a divided 
island with a divided people.
  Congress last year adopted House Resolution 405, a measure I was 
proud to cosponsor, which emphasized that the reunification of Cyprus 
should be based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. Other 
responsible nations have also stressed that such a reunification should 
include a single sovereignty and a single citizenship, with the 
independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus safeguarded. It is 
commendable that some steps have recently been taken towards 
establishment of such a solution.
  On May 23rd, the President of Cyprus and a designated representative 
for the Turkish Cypriot community--issued a joint statement in which 
they reaffirmed their commitment to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. 
Both sides also recently agreed to reopen a crossing point at Ledra 
Street in Nicosia, a key thoroughfare through that divided capital that 
has been closed for over 40 years. So there is some movement, but much 
remains to be done. There must be a solution that will end the 
occupation, reunite the island, and restore and safeguard the human 
rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people as a whole.
  I suggest that a more fitting celebration this year of the so-called 
``Peace and Freedom Day'' that I mentioned at the start of my remarks 
would consist of an announcement of the resumption comprehensive talks 
on reunification and a public expression of support for those 
negotiations. At some point soon, the final parade of Turkish troops 
should be their permanent departure from the island of Cyprus and the 
removal of all Turkish military forces there.

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