[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 113 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMEMBERING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 18, 2014

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 
the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, to recall those who are still missing 
since the invasion, and to express my support for the ongoing talks on 
the reunification of Cyprus.
  Following the capture of the northern portion of the island, Turkish 
military forces declared an illegal ``Turkish Republic of Northern 
Cyprus'' which is not recognized by any countries except Turkey. The 
division of the island continues to this day, with disastrous human, 
social, and economic consequences.
  It has also now been 40 years that the relatives of the missing have 
been unable to learn the fate of their loved ones. As you may know, the 
Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, a bi-communal investigatory 
committee operating under the auspices of the United Nations since 
1981, has been mandated to investigate nearly 2000 cases of missing 
Cypriots, mostly, but not all, Greek Cypriots.
  In 1994, Congress passed a law, which I wrote, directing the State 
Department to investigate the disappearance of five Americans as a 
result of the invasion. While there was some progress--the remains of 
one American, Andrew Kassapis, were located--too many remain 
unaccounted for. Regrettably, Turkey continues to obstruct the process 
of determining the fate of the missing. I have, therefore, today sent a 
letter to Secretary Kerry asking that the United States press Turkey 
more intensively to allow a complete and full investigation and to, 
once and for all, provide closure on this deeply painful question.
  Still, there is reason for some optimism. On February 11th of this 
year, a joint declaration between the parties set the framework for a 
new round of Cyprus unification negotiations. The talks advanced to a 
second phase in May, and I am hopeful that they could lead to a 
comprehensive agreement that grants true sovereignty to the Republic of 
Cyprus and all of the Cypriot people. There have been reciprocal visits 
of Greek and Turkish negotiators, respectively, to Ankara and Athens 
and, for now, Turkey seems interested in moving forward. However, for 
the talks to succeed, the United States must continue to play an active 
role in keeping Turkey at the table and shepherding a deal to fruition.
  And, there is good news on Cypriot-American relations. Cyprus, 
already a member of the European Union, is working to strengthen its 
bond with the United States. It is seeking to forge closer economic 
ties and bolster defense cooperation, even as it straddles an 
increasingly tense area. As one of the only stable democracies in the 
Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is an essential partner for the U.S. and 
an increasingly close friend of our strongest ally in the region, 
Israel. The U.S. and Cyprus have worked together on issues from 
counter-terrorism to the prevention of human trafficking, and, most 
recently, Cyprus has provided significant support in removing chemical 
weapons from Syria. Furthermore, there have been recent discoveries of 
natural gas off the coast of Cyprus, which will bolster the Cypriot 
economy and possibly become a viable energy source for Europe.
  Mr. Speaker, on this 40th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus, I 
stand with my friends in the Cypriot American community and in the 
Republic of Cyprus in remembrance of the conflict that began four 
decades ago, in memory of those who lost their lives in the war, in 
continued vigilance over the fate of the missing, and in support of a 
better future for all Cypriots.