[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H6302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            40TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an anniversary that 
has pained the Cypriot and Hellenic communities for 40 years.
  On July 20, 1974, in a blatant violation of international law, Turkey 
violently invaded Cyprus and captured much of the northern part of the 
island. Since the invasion, Turkey has occupied nearly 40 percent of 
Cyprus. Settlers were sent to inhabit homes that were previously owned 
by Greek Cypriots, forcibly relocating 160,000 Greek Cypriots. 
Religious artifacts and cultural relics have been destroyed in the wake 
of the Turkish Army's invasion, and after 40 years of displacement, 
they are now lost to time. Hundreds of churches and monasteries have 
been shamefully desecrated, losing all sense of their historic and 
religious significance.
  Despite this neglect, the Republic of Cyprus recognizes Turkish 
Cypriots as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, and provides numerous 
benefits to them as they would any citizen. Turkish Cypriots are 
entitled to official passports, which allow them to enjoy the benefits 
of EU membership, including the freedom of movement within EU member 
countries. Turkish Cypriots are recipients of free medical care from 
public hospitals, and they are eligible for benefits from the 
Republic's Social Insurance Scheme.
  These policies have resulted in Greek and Turkish Cypriots living 
among each other with little trouble. Indeed, there have been millions 
of crossings at the Green Line without incident. So why the Turkish 
troops? Why the continued occupation? Despite the increase in citizen-
level cohesion, the ``Cyprus problem'' remains a diplomatic challenge 
at the highest levels of government.
  Greek and Turkish Cypriots deserve an end to this senseless division. 
In February of this year, it looked like progress was being made for 
legitimate negotiations that would lead to a real solution based on the 
rule of law. There is potential for significant economic value from the 
discovery of offshore gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, which 
stand to benefit a unified Cyprus. By reaping these natural resources, 
Cyprus' allies--the United States, Greece, Israel, and many European 
countries--will also flourish.
  In the face of the optimism for financial recovery and other 
incentives to unify, this year, Turkish Cypriot leaders have refused to 
implement even the simplest of confidence-building measures, which 
would be a sign of good faith and would foster an atmosphere of honest 
negotiation. The failure to enact the most basic, practical steps 
continues to impede a process for reunification that is long overdue. 
Words lose their meaning when inaction is all that follows.
  Today, the United States stands in a unique role as a friend of both 
Cyprus and Turkey. As an honest broker to both sides, we can help them 
see that a unified future is far more promising than the present. The 
United States' relationship with all of its allies, Turkey included, 
must be based on shared values and mutual respect. At the core, the 
rule of law must be respected above all else. It is our duty to 
continually reinforce this message that 40 years of illegal occupation 
is 40 years too long.
  It is time for Turkey to engage in sincere negotiations and in 
concrete confidence-building measures instead of going through the 
motions and creating more obstacles when tough decisions are on the 
table. Both sides know a solution will demand compromise and 
cooperation. The time to talk is nearing its end. The time to act is 
here. Cyprus has long been a strong and faithful ally of the United 
States, and we owe our support for both peace and the end of this 
illegal occupation.

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