[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION OF CYPRUS AND 
  COMMENDING EFFORTS TO REACH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT LEADING TO THE 
                        REUNIFICATION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2010

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, this past weekend marked the 36th 
anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces. During the 
war, approximately 5,000 Cypriots were killed and close to 200,000 
Greek Cypriots were forcibly removed from their homes. This anniversary 
also marks another year in which Cyprus is divided between north and 
south and between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.
  However, despite 36 years of division in Cyprus, I remain hopeful 
about reaching a just and lasting settlement. Following his election in 
February 2008, President Demetris Christofias followed through on his 
commitment to make the solution of the Cyprus problem his top priority. 
In September of that year, he embarked on full-fledged negotiations 
with Mehmet Talat, who was at the time the leader of the Turkish 
Cypriot community. I am encouraged that these negotiations are 
continuing under the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
  The ongoing talks aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement for the 
Cyprus problem with the goal of achieving the unification of Cyprus 
based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as 
set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. 
The agreement should also lead to a single sovereignty, single 
citizenship and single international personality for Cyprus.
  The House of Representatives has voiced its strong support for 
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. On October 9, 2007, the 
House passed House Resolution 405, which expressed its support for the 
immediate implementation of the U.N.-brokered July 8, 2006 agreement as 
the way forward to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading 
to the reunification of Cyprus within a bi-zonal, bi-communal 
federation. In addition, the resolution called upon the United States 
Government to fully support the immediate implementation this agreement 
in its entirety.
  There are still many difficult issues that need to be resolved before 
a comprehensive agreement to the Cyprus problem can be achieved. 
Turkey, which continues to deploy 43,000 troops in Cyprus, is critical 
to reaching such an agreement. I urge Turkey to work constructively 
with the Cypriots in support of a negotiated settlement and the 
peaceful reunification of the island.

                          ____________________