[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S ILLEGAL INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2008

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, tonight I join my colleagues on the House 
floor to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Turkey's illegal 
occupation of Cyprus.
  On July 20th 1974, Turkey began its brutal invasion of Cyprus, which 
forced nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots to flee their homes--making one-
third of the Cypriot population refugees in their own country.
  Today, Turkey occupies the northern third of the island. It is one of 
the most militarized areas in the world, with more than 43,000 Turkish 
soldiers trying to maintain the status quo of the illegal occupation. 
Forty-three thousand soldiers may not sound like a lot, but consider 
that there is almost one Turkish soldier for every two Turkish 
Cypriots.
  When Cypriots were forced to flee their homes 34 years ago, a large 
number of their properties were unlawfully distributed to tens of 
thousands of illegal settlers from Turkey. Today, 34 years later, Greek 
Cypriots, who continue to own these properties, are prevented by Turkey 
from returning and enjoying their homes and properties. Included 
amongst this number are approximately 5,000 Cypriot-Americans who own 
property in the occupied area but who have no legal recourse.
  This is an outrage. Since Cypriot-Americans cannot return to their 
illegally-seized property, I believe they should be allowed to seek 
financial remedies with either the current inhabitants of their land or 
the Turkish government itself.
  Last year, I introduced the bipartisan American Owned Property in 
Occupied Cyprus Claims Act. Through this legislation, Americans who are 
being denied access to their property and even their ancestral homes 
will finally be able to seek restitution.
  Specifically, it 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 court to hear causes 
of action against either the individuals who now occupy those 
properties or the Turkish government.
  The U.S. Government must not idly stand by and refuse 5,000 of its 
citizens any legal recourse to address the grave injustices committed 
by the Turkish government. For 34 years, these Americans have been 
separated from their homes and their businesses. It is time Congress 
vindicate the property rights of U.S. citizens in Cyprus.
  While we commemorate the 34th anniversary of this illegal occupation, 
it is also important to recognize the progress that is being made on 
the island and some encouraging signs that we all hope lead to a united 
Cyprus one day soon.
  Working Groups and Technical Committees have been set up by Cypriot 
President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Talat to build the 
framework for possible substantive negotiations between the two leaders 
down the line.
  The two leaders have also met--once in May and then again at the 
beginning of this month--to discuss the progress that the Groups and 
Committees are making. They will also meet this Friday to conduct a 
final review of the work that has been completed to date.
  Another hopeful sign is the integration that continues to take place 
between Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots as a result of the nearly 
13 million crossings along the cease fire line that have occurred over 
the last five years. Over the last three years, Turkish Cypriot incomes 
have more than doubled, and more than 60,000 Turkish Cypriots have 
received Cypriot passports, which will allow them to travel freely in 
any E-U country.
  Madam Speaker, as we commemorate the 34th Anniversary of Turkey's 
illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, we are hopeful that these 
recent developments will finally produce something all Cypriots have 
waited 34 years to see--a united Cyprus.