[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 109 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1293-E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF CYPRUS BY TURKISH ARMED 
                                 FORCES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NIKI TSONGAS

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2012

  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 38th anniversary of the 
illegal invasion of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces. The lengthy 
duration of this occupation, which consumes

[[Page E1294]]

nearly 37% of Cyprus' territory, is particularly disappointing given 
the number of multilateral organizations--the UN, NATO and the EU--who 
have a vested interest in this dispute and who should work in concert 
to bring about a peaceful resolution. While some progress has been 
made, there is still much work to be done. Greek Cypriots have been 
evicted from their property, and cultural and religious desecration has 
been widespread. The Turkish government cannot maintain this occupation 
and hope to ever achieve membership in the EU.
  Respect for international law and calls for self-representation must 
be answered with regard to Cyprus. Turkey must live up to its 
international responsibilities and return all of Cyprus to the 
Cypriots. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have supported a variety 
of initiatives in support of this outcome including sending letters to 
President Obama and Secretary Clinton applauding the administration's 
commitment to exercise U.S. leadership in the negotiation for a just 
solution on Cyprus. We agree that a solution to the Cyprus problem 
should result in a single, sovereign country within a bi-zonal, bi-
communal federation. 38 years of discord is long enough; Cypriots 
deserve a government for them and by them.
  Since his election in February 2008, President Demetris Christofias 
has followed through on his promise to make the solution of the Cyprus 
problem his top priority and principal concern. In September of 2008, 
he embarked on negotiations with the then-leader of the Turkish Cypriot 
community, Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, under the auspices of the United 
Nations with U.S. support. He also continued these negotiations with 
the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Dervis Eroglu.
  Unfortunately, despite these negotiations, Turkey has stepped up its 
efforts to illegally obtain natural resources like oil and natural gas 
from the Republic of Cyprus' sovereign territory. Furthermore, Turkey's 
threat of possible annexation of northern Cyprus and Turkey's refusal 
to be a part of any EU discussion, communication, or policymaking while 
Cyprus holds the EU presidency does nothing to facilitate progress.
  The solution must reunite the island and safeguard the human rights 
and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and the withdrawal of Turkish 
forces from Cyprus.

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