[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 109 (Monday, July 20, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECALLING THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF 
                                 CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2009

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recall the tragic anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that 
occurred on July 20, 1974.
  Thirty-five years ago, Turkey attacked the Republic of Cyprus. 
Tragically, the legacy of that brutal act--43,000 Turkish occupation 
troops on Cypriot soil--continues to this day. Turkish troops, in 
blatant disregard for the Rule of Law and the basic rights of the 
Cypriot people, continue to illegally divide the island into two areas. 
As a result, the Republic of Cyprus is one of the most militarized 
areas in the world.
  I strongly urge both sides to fully comply with the guiding 
principles of the July 8, 2006 agreement. This agreement sought to 
establish working groups to operate together to reunify Cyprus into one 
bizonal, bicommunal federation. Since September 3, 2008, the leaders of 
the two communities have held more than 35 rounds of direct talks and 
those talks are continuing regularly. The July 8 agreement is an 
important achievement that has given both parties the framework to work 
toward a permanently unified and free Cyprus.
  I commend the opening of Ledra Street in Nicosia that occurred on 
April 3, 2008 and the recent agreement between the Turkish and Cypriot 
leaders to open the Limnitis crossing point to Kokkina. These are 
positive steps toward realizing the goals of the July 8 agreement and 
toward liberating the Cypriot people.
  While the international community may certainly support the Cypriot 
and Turkish leaders as they work toward a solution, the solution to the 
illegal occupation of Cyprus must be solved by the Cypriots themselves 
and any solution must serve the interests of the people of Cyprus. A 
solution cannot be imposed by outside parties or subject to arbitrary 
timelines.
  Madam Speaker, I remain committed to the goal of a united and free 
Cyprus. After thirty-five years of illegal occupation, the Cypriot 
people deserve to be free from division and oppression at last.

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