[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 110 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

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                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call my colleagues' attention to 
the 37th anniversary of the Turkish tragic invasion of Cyprus. Turkey's 
unlawful occupation, which began on this day in 1974, left thousands of 
innocent Greek Cypriot civilians without their homes, their land, and 
their families. It is crucial for us to commemorate this unfortunate 
situation and assist the people of Cyprus in reaching a solution.
  Many of the Cypriot generation who suffered the invasion have not 
lived to see justice or a resolution to this conflict. Although many of 
the survivors have had the opportunity to return to their homes on the 
northern side of the island, it was only to discover them occupied by 
Turkish settlers.
  Only Turkey recognizes the occupied northern side of the country as a 
Turkish Cypriot state, but it does not even provide a valid standard of 
living to their own citizens. This was made evident through the recent 
demonstrations by Turkish Cypriots who have displayed their own 
dissatisfaction with the Turkish occupation.
  Thirty-seven years after the invasion, the Turkish government 
continues to throw obstacles in the path to peace. Instead of 
compromising, Turkey threatens a deadlock on relations between Turkey 
and the European Union if the Republic of Cyprus takes over the 
presidency of the European Union in July 2012. It is clear that 
Cypriots of all kinds are ready for peace, but how can peace be reached 
when Turkey will not even accept Cyprus as a member of the European 
Union? The time has come for Turkey to end their threats, withdraw 
their troops, and return the territory that is not rightfully theirs. 
That way, the Cypriots--and the Cypriots alone--can make the decisions 
affecting their future.

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