[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2012

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call my colleagues' attention to 
the 38th anniversary of Turkey's unlawful and tragic invasion of 
Cyprus. Turkey's occupation, which began on July 20, 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. More recently, Turkey has 
threatened the use of force to stop Texas-based Noble Energy from 
drilling for oil and gas off the shores of Cyprus and to blacklist any 
businesses that work with Cyprus for natural resource extraction.
  Meanwhile, the Turkish government has begun to sow instability 
throughout its region. Turkey recognizes the terrorist Hamas government 
in Gaza and even received its leader in the Turkish parliament earlier 
this year--disturbing hypocrisy from a state that receives US support 
for its own fight against terrorism. Turkey also demands that Israel 
end its naval blockade of Gaza, despite the deadly security threat 
Hamas poses to Israel. Turkey's repeated, flagrant criticism of Israel 
is particularly troubling and potentially destabilizing.
  Turkey continues to deny the Armenian Genocide during which 1.5 
million Armenians perished and has threatened punitive measures against 
the United States if Congress recognizes this tragic event. Since 1993, 
Turkey has maintained a destabilizing blockade of Armenia.
  The time has come for Turks to end their threats and denials, 
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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