[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H7140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 34TH YEAR SINCE THE INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 34th year since 
the invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus. Since 1974, 
Turkish military forces have illegally occupied the northern part of 
the island republic. The Turkish occupation forcibly divides peaceful 
communities and deprives a sovereign nation the exercise of democratic 
independence in all of its territory.
  The Turkish invasion divided Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking 
Cypriots into two physically distinct communities for the first time in 
the island nation's history. The unlawful occupation of 37 percent of 
the territory of Cyprus continues unabated to this day. There are 
currently 43,000 Turkish troops garrisoned in the occupied areas, and 
Turkey has resettled over 100,000 mainland Turkish citizens into those 
areas.
  The continued Turkish occupation of the island republic subverts the 
indigenous effort to establish a democratically free and culturally 
unique Cypriot nation. All that stands in the way of Cypriots 
celebrating their unique and diverse national heritage within the 
expanded borders of the European Union is the presence of the Turkish 
occupation forces.
  Today, thousands of Cypriots continue to be refugees in their own 
land, blocked from the homes and the communities they inhabited for 
generations. Some have been marooned in tiny enclaves trapped by the 
occupation forces, cut off from the outside world and basic human 
rights. A new generation of Cypriots has inherited the terrible 
dislocation that military occupation brings.
  In the face of all this, the Republic of Cypress has struggled and 
succeeded in building a strong society, one whose economic progress, 
development of democratic institutions and capable governance led to 
membership in the European Union in May 2004. Sadly, until there is an 
end to the occupation, the occupied areas of Cyprus will be denied the 
full benefits of EU membership.
  For the United States, there is a clear imperative to resolve the 
situation in Cyprus as a matter of justice and the rule of law, 
principles we hold dear. But beyond that, achieving reunification of 
the island is critical to the strategic interests of the United States. 
The Cyprus problem pits American allies against one another. The 
strategic interest in facilitating a negotiated settlement is 
significant for the region, but also for the world. Cyprus can either 
fester as a potential flash point or become a starting point for 
reconciliation.
  Reconciliation talks are now underway between the leadership of the 
two Cypriot communities. The opportunity for reconciliation is real. 
Since Cyprus' entry to the EU, many checkpoints along the infamous 
green-line have been opened. After nearly 30 years of complete 
separation, there have been more than 13 million bi-communal crossings 
without any serious incident.
  Everyday Cypriots of the Turkish-speaking community cross into the 
free areas of the Republic of Cyprus to go to work. Indeed, nearly 3 
percent of the Turkish-speaking Cypriot community is employed in the 
free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, and more than 35,000 have applied 
for and received passports from the Republic of Cyprus.
  The Cypriot people want an end to the division of their island. Their 
efforts to negotiate reconciliation through the good offices of the 
United Nations must be free of Turkish interference. It is no secret 
that successive Turkish governments and, in particular, the Turkish 
military, use Cyprus as a shibboleth to rouse extremist and nationalist 
sentiment to enhance their own domestic standing.
  We, in the House of Representatives, should heed the political storm 
engulfing Turkey. Today, in Turkey democratic expression is challenged 
at every turn. Today, in Turkey religious and ethnic minorities live in 
a state of credible fear and harm of persecution. Today and for more 
than 80 years, the Turkish military holds itself out as the primary 
political actor existing beyond the bounds of democratic 
accountability.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States should not yield to violations of 
human rights and the rule of law by the government of Turkey or the 
Turkish military. The United States, and its allies, particularly the 
European Union, must stand in solidarity with all Cypriots and support 
their commendable efforts to reconcile their differences and establish 
a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.
  With the support of this body, it should be made clear to Turkey that 
perpetuating the status quo on Cyprus hurts its relations with the 
United States and the rest of the world. Worst of all, it forecloses 
Turkey's prospects for accession to the European Union.
  I ask my colleagues to support the reconciliation efforts now 
underway, and demand from our Turkish ally that it refrain from 
interfering in the reconciliation efforts now underway. With a truly 
concerted effort by this body, next year we will commend the Cypriots 
on their courageous reconciliation, instead of observing the 35th year 
of Turkish military occupation.

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