[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2378-E2379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a member of the House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus 
on Hellenic Issues to shed light on disheartening developments that 
have taken place recently off the coast of the Republic of Cyprus.

[[Page E2379]]

  On November 13 of this year, a Turkish warship issued threats to two 
foreign flagged maritime vessels conducting an exploratory survey at 
the request of the Government of Cyprus, within its exclusive economic 
zone, EEZ. The Turkish warship claimed that these vessels had entered 
into Turkey's EEZ. Fearing retaliation, the exploratory ships withdrew. 
However, at the time of this threat, these two ships had been located 
27 miles off the coast of Cyprus, which is included within its EEZ 
boundaries.
  In addition to this most recent incident, Turkey has used the waters 
of the Republic of Cyprus to conduct military exercises numerous times. 
Furthermore, even after Cyprus's Permanent Representative to the United 
Nations, Minas Hadjimichael, and President of the Republic of Cyprus, 
Demetris Christofias, notified the U.N. Secretary-General of the 
November 13th Turkish provocation, Turkish warships continue to harass 
ships within Cyprus's EEZ.
  Turkey's recent violations of international maritime law not only 
jeopardize the possibility for the re-unification of Cyprus, but they 
also endanger global security. In just one month, Turkey is to become a 
non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, the same governing 
body that has frequently denounced Turkey's disregard for Cyprus's 
sovereignty. If Turkey violates the conditions to which it agreed when 
it joined the United Nations as they pertain to Cyprus--conditions that 
mandate each Member State's respect for the sovereignty of all States--
who is to say that it will not violate its obligation to any other 
nation, including the United States? For Turkey to threaten the 
Republic of Cyprus--a nation that has been a staunch supporter of the 
United States and one that has been an unwavering ally in the Global 
War on Terror--is disturbing. The United States cannot simply remain 
silent and watch these provocative acts take place.
  Madam Speaker, enough is enough. I encourage my colleagues to join me 
in condemning Turkey's blatant and repeated acts of aggression against 
the Republic of Cyprus and to demand that Turkey abide by the 
provisions to which it agreed when it joined the United Nations, 
provisions that the Republic of Cyprus has continually observed with 
pride.

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