[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1859-E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CALLING ON TURKISH-OCCUPIED CYPRUS TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS ARTIFACTS

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                               speech of

                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I have serious concerns regarding H. Res. 
1631 which was considered on the House Floor on Tuesday, September 28.

[[Page E1860]]

  While the resolution proports to raise awareness regarding the 
smuggling of Cypriot religious and cultural artifacts, it only 
addresses cases related to Northern Cyprus and ignores the fact that it 
is a problem on both sides of the island, and should be addressed by 
both sides in addition to the international community.
  H. Res. 1631 overlooks the destruction of over 100 mosques, shrines, 
mausoleums and other valuable Ottoman and other cultural treasures in 
the 103 towns and villages which the Turkish Cypriots were forced to 
abandon in the southern part of the island.
  There is also no mention of the vast sums spent by Turkish Cypriots 
to restore 15 Orthodox Churches over the last three years--each of 
which has been completed.
  In order to address this problem, Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders 
established a Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in May 2008 in 
conjunction with talks to settle the Cyprus issue. This Committee was 
given an important mandate for the protection of the rich cultural 
heritage of the island. It aims at preserving secular and religious 
cultural heritage monuments, which is an integral part of the ongoing 
process of improving relations between Turkish Cypriots and Greek 
Cypriots.
  Had Greek Cypriots accepted the UN peace plan in the simultaneous 
referenda in April 2004, these issues would have been well on the way 
to being resolved, rather than discussed in third country legislatures.
  Despite the rejection of the so called Annan Plan in 2004, direct 
negotiations between the two leaders on the island have continued in 
pursuit of a comprehensive solution to the conflict. As the party that 
has supported the UN peace plan along with the international community 
in 2004, the Turkish Cypriots continue to demonstrate their commitment 
to a comprehensive settlement based on the political equality of the 
two sides. Both sides need the support and encouragement of the United 
States and other members of the international community in order to 
bridge their differences and reach a mutually agreed upon settlement. 
The Congress should engage in activities that aim to bring the two 
sides together, not inflame passions. That is why I believe it was ill 
advised for the Congress to adopt this resolution.

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