[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE 36TH YEAR OF ILLEGAL TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, this week, once again, we commemorate 
the tragic 36th anniversary of the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion of 
Cyprus. Thirty-six years later, Turkey continues forcibly to occupy 
more than one-third of Cyprus with more than 43,000 troops. This 
amounts to almost one Turkish soldier for every two Turkish Cypriots. 
It is time for Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus so that the 
island can move forward as one nation.
  I am honored to represent Astoria, Queens--one of the largest and 
most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this 
country. I truly enjoy participating in the life of this community and 
treasure the wonderful and vital Cypriot friends that I have come to 
know. Cyprus has long been a key partner for the United States, and our 
friendship rests on the bedrock of shared democratic values.
  As co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, I 
have worked diligently with my colleagues in the Caucus out of our 
mutual concern for the continued division and occupation of Cyprus. We 
have 158 members today, one of the largest caucuses in Congress.
  Cyprus is playing a vital role in European affairs while also 
strengthening relations with the United States. It has joined with us 
on issues important to our own security, including the fight against 
terrorism and other international crimes. Ending the island's tragic 
division will pave the way to prosperity and peace throughout the 
entire region.
  Last year, I was joined by Hellenic Caucus co-chair Representative 
Gus Bilirakis in urging our colleagues to sign a letter to President 
Obama thanking him for his vocal support of a unified Cyprus and urging 
the United States' continued support for a solution to the Cyprus 
problem that is by Cypriots, for Cypriots.
  To date, Turkey has repeatedly ignored all U.N. Resolutions 
pertaining to Cyprus and has continued to occupy the island in complete 
violation of international law. Turkey has continued to do so despite 
the fact that it has been a member of the U.N. Security Council since 
January 2009. Turkey has also refused to abide by the Judgments of the 
European Court of Human Rights in numerous cases, thereby continuing to 
violate the basic human rights of the Cypriot people. This is an 
outrage.
  The current negotiations aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement 
of the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with 
political equality, as defined in the relevant U.N. Security Council 
resolutions, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single 
international personality. The solution must reunite the island, its 
people, its institutions and its economy and safeguard the human rights 
and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and the withdrawal of Turkish 
occupation forces from Cyprus.
  The United States and the international community must continue to 
provide support to this process. The people of Cyprus deserve a unified 
and democratic country, and I remain hopeful that a peaceful settlement 
will be found so that the division of Cyprus will come to an end.

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