[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE 36TH COMMEMORATION OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

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                         HON. ZACHARY T. SPACE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2010

  Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker, 36 years ago today, Turkish forces invaded 
the sovereign nation of Cyprus, killing 5,000 Greek Cypriots and 
displacing nearly 200,000. This blatant violation of international law 
and lack of respect for a country's right to self-determination is made 
worse by the fact that Turkish occupation of the northern area of 
Cyprus continues to this day.
  This is a dark anniversary to mark, one that represents an entire 
generation of Cypriots expelled from their homes--their property 
confiscated, family members missing and religious artifacts vandalized 
and destroyed. This occupation desecrates the basic freedoms and rights 
of the Cypriot people. Nearly 37 percent of the island of Cyprus 
remains under Turkish military control insistent on an illegitimate 
sovereignty that is unrecognized by any nation but Turkey. This is 
completely unacceptable.
  In the past 36 years, there have been more than 75 resolutions 
adopted by the U.N. Security Council--a council of which Turkey is a 
member. These resolutions call for the return of refugees to their 
homes and withdrawal of troops from Cyprus. President Demetris 
Christofias has followed through on his election promise to make the 
solution of this problem his top priority and has had several full-
fledged negotiations with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. 
Yet, the negotiations' success has been consistently thwarted by 
Ankara, which has not given great freedom to the Turkish Cypriot 
leaders to negotiate within the agreed-upon framework.
  The legitimate, internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus stands 
firmly for peaceful resolution of the conflict. This path to a 
resolution calls for a single citizenship, a single sovereignty, and 
two politically equal communities. The solution to proceed with a bi-
zonal, bi-communal federation is, most importantly, Cypriot in design.
  Cyprus must be the author of its own path forward. Yet, the United 
States can and must do more to encourage Turkey to support the process 
and the reunification of the island. We should use our influence with 
Turkey to urge it to actively support the reunification of the island 
and to withdraw its troops from the island. We must provide support and 
assistance to the process and those working to move it forward.
  As a Greek American and as a member of the Hellenic Caucus, I could 
not feel more strongly about the reunification of Cyprus. Cyprus is a 
nation that has endured occupation long enough. For us, the issue is 
straightforward and clear: we must do all we can to aid our ally, the 
Republic of Cyprus, in righting the wrongs of the past 36 years and in 
so doing, to promote peace and security in the Mediterranean.

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