[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 31, 2012

  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Republic of Cyprus as it finishes out its first rotation of the 
European Union Presidency. For a small country like Cyprus, this is a 
significant event in their history and I want to recognize one of their 
Presidency's major accomplishments.
  I would like to thank Cyprus for successfully overseeing the 
implementation of new European Union sanctions that were imposed on 
Iran to target their nuclear and ballistic missile program. Iran 
continues to be a threat to the United States, Europe, and our closest 
ally in the Middle East--the Jewish State of Israel. These sanctions 
will go a long way towards ensuring further stability in the Middle 
East and helping Israel to maintain its security. These are the 
toughest sanctions yet to be imposed by the EU and I believe they will 
work in concert with those imposed by the U.S. Congress. Again, I'd 
like to congratulate the Republic of Cyprus for its oversight of this 
implementation and overall for a successful first rotation as EU 
President.

                          ____________________