[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

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                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2014

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, July 20 represented the 40th anniversary of 
Turkey's invasion and subsequent illegal occupation of Cyprus. As the 
situation in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East is becoming 
more unstable, it is time to resolve the decades-long forcible division 
of Cyprus.
  As a result of Turkey's occupation of northern Cyprus, thousands of 
Greek Cypriots are still being denied their fundamental right to return 
to their homes; Greek Cypriot properties are constantly being illegally 
confiscated or sold without their owners' consent; Turkish troops 
continue to be stationed on the island; thousands of colonists from 
mainland Turkey have been transplanted to the occupied area; freedom of 
worship continues to be severely restricted, access to religious sites 
blocked, religious sites destroyed and a large number of religious and 
archaeological objects stolen.
  I have been to the island and seen Turkey's destruction and 
aggression on the northern part of Cyprus first-hand. It was 
particularly heartbreaking to see the devastation done to the 
centuries-old churches, and the ghost-town that the once thriving 
resort town of Famagusta has become.
  Unfortunately, over the past 40 years Turkey has continued to 
obstruct the negotiating process of reunifying Cyprus. Specifically, 
Turkey has prohibited the exhumation of remains from mass graves, even 
under supervision from the United Nations (UN), and rejected proposals 
to carry out a simple technical survey to determine what needs to be 
done to rebuild Famagusta in the future.
  A solid foundation was laid for result-oriented talks on February 11, 
2014, with the release of a joint statement from the two community 
leaders regarding the intention of cooperation between the Greek 
Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The Cyprus Government remains 
fully committed to the UN sponsored process to reach a sustainable and 
enduring settlement that would reunify Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-
communal federation in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council 
resolution.
  Now, particularly in the wake of the discovery of offshore gas 
reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, it is more important than ever 
that Congress stand with our Cypriot allies in finding a fair and 
functional solution of the Cyprus problem--not only for the best 
interest of the people of Cyprus but also for the United States' 
interest of stability in the region.

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