[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 123 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1570]]
  COMMEMORATING THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2008

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the dark day 34 
years ago this week in which Turkey illegally invaded the island of 
Cyprus. I rise in honor of the thousands of Cypriots who lost their 
lives or whose fate remains unknown, and in honor of the hundreds of 
thousands who were exiled from their homes. I would like to share my 
sympathy for their losses as well as my hope for a brighter, peaceful 
future for the island. The 34 unjust years of occupation must come to 
an end.
  July 20, 1974 marks the beginning of a tragic era in Cypriot history. 
The Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern region of Cyprus 
has proved an affront to human rights and the rule of law. Hundreds of 
thousands of Greek Cypriots have suffered serious abuses of fundamental 
rights and freedoms. Their property has been illegally seized, their 
land has been settled, and many of their religious and cultural 
treasures have been damaged, destroyed, or illegally transferred 
abroad.
  Turkey's military hold over northern Cyprus has persisted over three 
decades despite condemnation by the international community and nearly 
100 U.N. resolutions requesting the withdrawal of all foreign forces 
from the island, the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes 
and properties and above all, respect for the sovereignty, 
independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of 
Cyprus. Indeed, I authored a resolution which passed the House in 1995 
calling for the demilitarization of Cyprus. While Turkey is a friend 
and ally of the United States, the time has come for Ankara to 
relinquish its grasp on Cyprus. Enough is enough.
  Recent events have raised hopes for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. 
Cyprus' accession to the European Union in 2004 was pivotal in the 
processes of integration and mutual development. The Turkish Cypriot 
population of over 90,000 benefit daily from rapidly increasing per 
capita income and the Government of Cyprus' provision of free education 
and medical and social services. In sum, the Government of Cyprus has 
provided nearly one billion dollars in tangible benefits to the Turkish 
Cypriot community. Along with hundreds of thousands of crossings 
between the Turkish occupied zone and the rest of the Republic of 
Cyprus, this progress has contributed to an environment of increasing 
trust and cooperation in which a peacefully negotiated solution may be 
pursued.
  Since his election in February 2008, President of Cyprus Demetris 
Christofias has made resolution of the Cyprus problem his top priority 
and principal concern. He has reached out to Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. 
Mehmet Talat and called on him to cooperate face to face in order to 
implement a solution that honors relevant U.N. Security Council 
Resolutions, the High Level Agreements of 1977, 1979 and July 8, 2006 
and the values and fundamental principles on which the European Union 
is founded.
  In March, President Christofias and Mr. Talat agreed to establish a 
number of Working Groups and Technical Committees as stipulated in the 
July 8 Agreement. The House of Representatives expressed its full 
support in H. Res. 405, which I cosponsored, for these actions as the 
ground on which to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading 
to Cyprus' reunification within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
  After several meetings earlier this year between the two parties and 
in the spirit of the opening in April of a symbolic crossing through 
the U.N.-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, the world's last divided 
capital, I am proud to report that tomorrow, President Christofias and 
Mr. Talat will meet again to undertake the final review of the Working 
Groups and Technical Committees.
  I ask each of my colleagues in the House to join me in support of 
this positive effort to realize full-fledged negotiations. We must urge 
Turkey to respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all 
citizens of Cyprus while exhibiting the political will that would 
enable a solution which will bring peace, prosperity and a better 
future for all the citizens of a united Cyprus.

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