[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 109 (Monday, July 20, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1844-E1845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2009

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to 
urge the U.S. to join in the efforts to reach a peaceful solution to 
the dispute in Cyprus.
  The United States, United Nations, United Kingdom, European Union are 
just a few countries and international organizations who have long been 
engaged in the efforts to bring about a negotiated compromise to the 
dispute in Cyprus. I feel it is time that such an agreement is reached. 
Moreover, I'm pleased that at the end of last year, the Greek Cypriot 
Leader, Demetris Christofias, and Turkish Cypriot Leader, Mehmet Ali 
Talat, began U.N.-sponsored peace talks to try to find a solution to 
the ongoing situation in Cyprus.
  I believe this Administration should also take an active role to 
bring about a solution that would be beneficial for both Cypriot 
communities. This ongoing disagreement pits two NATO allies, Greece and 
Turkey, against each other, and therefore, we must quickly find a 
mutually agreed upon solution.
  Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 
Philip Gordon, testified that ``resolution of the Cyprus problem will 
have a tremendous impact on the region by strengthening peace, justice, 
and prosperity on the island, advancing Turkey's European Union 
accession, improving NATO-EU cooperation and removing a source of 
friction between two NATO Allies, Greece and Turkey.''
  I agree with the Assistant Secretary Gordon's sentiments and hope the 
Administration takes the appropriate actions to ensure that an accord 
is achieved. Any agreement must lead Cyprus to an independent 
government where both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have equal 
political rights similar to the 1994 Annan Plan. The Annan Plan would 
have set up a confederation of two component states--the Greek Cypriot 
State and the Turkish Cypriot State. Both Cypriot communities would be 
joined together by a federal government mirrored after the Swiss 
federal model. The plan included a federal constitution, constitutions 
for each constituent state, and a string of constitutional and federal 
laws. It also provided for a Reconciliation Commission to bring the two 
Cypriot communities closer together and resolve outstanding disputes 
from the past.
  Such a bi-zonal and bi-communal agreement is the best approach and I 
urge the Administration to actively participate in the peaceful re-
unification process in Cyprus.

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