[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE TURKISH MILITARY OCCUPATION OF NORTHERN CYPRUS MUST END

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2008

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, the illegal Turkish occupation of 
the northern region of the sovereign state of Cyprus began 34 years 
ago, and continues to this day.
  It must end, and Turkey must remove its forces from Cyprus' 
territory.
  Very commendable efforts are underway by the Cypriot government to 
achieve a reunification of Cyprus. Meetings are being held with the 
designated representative for the Turkish Cypriot community to discuss 
ways to create a federal structure that will ensure the rights and 
freedoms of all the people of Cyprus.
  But, just as the continued illegal occupation of northern Cyprus has 
to end, Turkey has to play a constructive role in supporting the talks 
on reunification. In that regard, it is simply not helpful to have 
Turkish military displays in northern Cyprus, marking the anniversary 
of the occupation, as took place this past weekend.
  It is time for the barricades to come down, for the people who had 
been forced from their homes decades ago to return, for those who 
remain missing from the time of the invasion to be accounted for, and 
for freedom and economic prosperity to be allowed to spread across the 
beautiful island-country of Cyprus.
  I note the anniversary of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus 
with great disappointment that the Turkish military continues its 
illegal occupation.
  But I remain hopeful that the voices that are calling for peace and 
reunification of Cyprus will be heard and will prevail.
  Just as the ongoing talks have already led to the reopening of Ledra 
Street, a key thoroughfare in Nicosia that had been closed for over 40 
years, those talks can lead to reunification of all of Cyprus itself, 
if Turkey takes steps that will support that.

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