[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, on July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus. 
Thirty four years later, Turkish troops continue to occupy 37 percent 
of the land on Cyprus. During the occupation, some 180,000 Cypriots 
became refugees and over 5,000 Cypriots were murdered.
  The European Court of Human Rights recently found Turkey guilty of 
violating the European Convention on Human Rights. Notably, 26 year-old 
Solomos Solomou, was killed on August, 14, 1996 after being shot three 
times by Turkish snipers while trying to climb a pole in order to 
remove a Turkish flag from its mast. The killing happened after the 
funeral of his cousin, Tassos Isaak, who was himself beaten to death on 
August 11, 1996 by a Turkish mob while taking part in an anti-
occupation demonstration.
  On March 12th of this year, I sent a congratulatory letter to the 
newly elected Cypriot President Christofias. In addition to a new 
President in the Republic of Cyprus, his election represents a new 
direction for the Republic of Cyprus. I commend President Christofias 
for the intensification of efforts to reach a just, viable, and 
functional solution to the Cyprus problem. I believe this is a unique 
time to capitalize on the commitment made to find a solution and I am 
optimistic that the working groups and technical committees will 
prepare the necessary groundwork for full-fledged negotiation. However, 
I also believe that any solution that will reunite the island, its 
people, its institutions and its economy and must come from the 
Cypriots themselves.
  On September 25, 2007, I introduced S. Res. 331, which 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. In addition, the resolution urges 
the Government of Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its 
military occupation forces. Ultimately, it is on their shoulders to 
prove their good will and I hope they do so promptly.
  As Cypriot-Americans join with Cypriots from throughout the world to 
help to rebuild their homeland, and as they seek to secure an 
economically prosperous state free of illegal occupation, I will stand 
by them. I will work to ensure that the Turkish occupation comes to an 
end.
  This week, we remember those who perished on Cyprus, and honor those 
who survived and who continue to live under Turkish occupation. We have 
not forgotten and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their 
families.
  Remembering together the events of July 20, 1974 in solidarity gives 
reverence to historical events we cannot afford to forget as we move 
forward to a peaceful, just solution and a hopeful tomorrow.

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