[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]


RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S ILLEGAL INVASION OF CYPRUS

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2009

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, tonight I join my colleagues on the House 
floor to commemorate the somber 35th anniversary of Turkey's illegal 
occupation of Cyprus.
  On July 20, 1974, Turkey began its brutal invasion of Cyprus, which 
forced nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots to flee their homes--making one-
third of the Cypriot population refugees in their own country.
  Today, Turkey occupies the northern third of the island. It is one of 
the most militarized areas in the world, with more than 43,000 Turkish 
soldiers trying to maintain the status quo of the illegal occupation.
  The U.S. must do our part to nurture steps towards a united Cyprus. 
As a member of the Hellenic Caucus, I have joined many of my colleagues 
in calling on the Administration and the Department of State to urge 
Turkey to demonstrate that it has the political will necessary for 
constructive negotiations. A successful settlement effort must take on 
ground realities into consideration: the two Cypriot communities have a 
history of living peacefully together. A solution will be a reunified 
Cyprus that is a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation.
  A solution must flow out of the interests of the Cypriots themselves. 
It is the Turkish Government that needs to show a genuine interest in 
resolving the dispute. It is in Ankara that leadership must be taken to 
signal to Turkish Cypriots that they can be free to negotiate a 
solution. Removal of thousands of Turkish troops from Cyprus is 
essential to that solution.
  When Cypriots were forced to flee their homes 35 years ago, a large 
number of their properties were unlawfully distributed to tens of 
thousands of illegal settlers from Turkey. Today, 35 years later, Greek 
Cypriots, who continue to own these properties, are prevented by Turkey 
from returning and enjoying their homes and properties.
  This past April, the European Court of Justice, ECJ, ruled that the 
judgment of a court in the Republic of Cyprus must be recognized and 
enforced by all other EU-member states even if it concerns land 
situated in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.
  The ECJ landmark ruling reaffirms the territorial integrity of the 
Republic of Cyprus and once again upholds the undeniable right of all 
Greek-Cypriots: That they remain the sole owners of properties that 
were illegally stripped from them.
  It is an outrage that approximately 5,000 Cypriot-Americans who own 
property in the occupied area, but who have no legal recourse. Since 
Cypriot-Americans cannot return to their illegally-seized property, I 
believe they should be allowed to seek financial remedies with either 
the current inhabitants of their land or the Turkish Government itself.
  Last Congress, I introduced the bipartisan American Owned Property in 
Occupied Cyprus Claims Act. Through this legislation, Americans who are 
being denied access to their property and even their ancestral homes 
will finally be able to seek restitution. I will once again introduce a 
similar bill.
  While there are many difficulties, hopeful signs of progress do 
exist. There is ongoing integration that takes place between Greek-
Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots as a result of the nearly 13 million 
crossings along the cease-fire line that have occurred over the last 
five years.
  Madam Speaker, as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of Turkey's 
illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, I remain hopeful a united 
Cyprus can become a reality.

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