[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E96-E97]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO RAUF RAIF DENKTAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rauf Raif 
Denktas, the Turkish Cypriot leader who formerly served as the Vice 
President of the Republic of Cyprus and President of the Turkish 
Republic of Northern Cyprus. Mr. Denktas passed away on January 13, 
2012.
  Mr. Denktas had a career of service to Turkish Cypriots that spanned 
six decades. As far back as 1958, he attended the United Nations 
General Assembly as a representative of Turkish Cypriots. In 1960, 
Cyprus won independence from Britain and an impassioned debate and 
conflict over the future of that island has continued to this day. 
Cyprus has been divided since 1974. Mr. Denktas was elected President 
of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus in 1976 and was reelected in 
1981. He was subsequently elected President of the Turkish Republic of 
Northern Cyprus on four separate occasions between 1985 and 2000, and 
served through April 25, 2005. He was also a prolific writer and 
photographer, and his works have been publicly displayed.
   Mr. Denktas was a colorful, effective leader and spokesman for 
Turkish Cypriots. Despite

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the tensions that have existed on the island of Cyprus for decades, the 
two sides have maintained a largely peaceful existence. Let us hope 
that a peaceful, prosperous, long-term solution can be found for the 
future of Cyprus.

                          ____________________