[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 106 (Monday, July 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5696-H5697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, for nearly 36 years, the people of 
Cyprus have endured an illegal occupation and massive violations of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms by Turkey after it invaded a 
sovereign nation 36 years ago tomorrow. It breaks my heart to hear the 
stories of how the occupied north has been devastated, how the Turkish 
occupiers have converted chapels in Kyrenia into bars and tourist 
information centers; how once beautiful churches have been converted 
into mosques; how the U.N. peacekeepers on the island have watched for 
36 years as the Turkish Army has laid land mines and can only sit and 
note what's being done--a peacekeeping force operating with no mandate 
to stop the lawlessness.
  It breaks my heart that families forcibly removed from their homes 
had all of their personal and real property stolen from them. More 
heartbreaking than anything else are the persons missing since 1974, 
Madam Speaker, whose families still grieve knowing they will never be 
at peace until their sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers are 
accounted for and whose bones must be laid to rest.
  Yet the Turkish Government still refuses to cooperate. To us, their 
actions aren't acceptable. That is why we will continue to fight and 
persist in our efforts to reunify Cyprus and make the island whole 
again and heal the wounds. A solution to the Cyprus problem has come 
from the Cypriots themselves and must serve first and foremost the 
interests of the Cypriots.
  The key to a successful outcome of the negotiating process and 
reunification of the island remains in Ankara, since a solution to the 
Cyprus problem cannot be reached without Turkey's full and constructive 
cooperation. Turkey must give the new Turkish Cypriot leader the 
freedom to negotiate a solution. Turkey must start with the removal of 
its occupation troops and illegal settlers from Cyprus.
  The role of the U.N. and the international community is to provide 
assistance and support the process. The process should not be subjected 
to false time frames. The United States has publicly supported a 
solution of the Cyprus problem and specifically a

[[Page H5697]]

bicommunal, bizonal federation. As a close ally of Turkey, the U.S. 
should use its influence to push Turkey to actively support the process 
and the reunification of the island as a bicommunal and bizonal 
federation. And the U.S. must also push Turkey to withdraw its 
occupational forces.
  The Government of Cyprus continues to work for the genuine 
reunification of Cyprus and integration of its people and economy in 
the context of a functional and viable settlement, a solution which 
will bring peace, prosperity, and a better future for all of the 
citizens of a united Cyprus within the EU. A solution of the Cyprus 
problem that reunifies the island, its people, the economy, its 
institutions in a bizonal, bicommunal federation is in the best 
interest of all Cypriots.

                              {time}  1920

  Madam Speaker, I urge this body to pressure Turkey to remove its 
troops from Cyprus, remove its settlers, and come to the negotiating 
table in good faith to find a solution that is just for the Cypriot 
people. Let's hope we are not recognizing the 37th anniversary of the 
invasion this time next year.

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