[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 30, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5123-S5124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, in 1974, 40 years ago this month, Turkish 
troops invaded the Republic of Cyprus. By August they had taken control 
of more than one-third of the island. Turkey's invasion had immediate 
consequences, such as the confiscation of property and the displacement 
of Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike.
  The invasion has also had more enduring consequences--consequences 
that are still felt today. The so-called green line, a demilitarized 
United Nations buffer zone, still cuts a jagged path across the island, 
dividing one part of the country from the other. It even bisects the 
capital city of Nicosia. In 1983, Turkish Cypriots declared a separate 
country in the northern third of Cyprus--a country recognized to this 
day by Turkey alone.
  Vice President Joe Biden visited Cyprus in May, and he spoke of being 
called the White House optimist for his belief that the best days are 
yet to come. Well, by that standard, my colleagues here must think me 
the Senate optimist. But I really do believe that the future is bright 
for Cyprus and that most Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots want to 
put aside decades of division and move forward together.
  I was pleased to read that leaders issued a joint declaration in 
February calling the status quo ``unacceptable'', and I am encouraged 
by the resumption of high-level negotiations on a comprehensive 
settlement. I think the United States, with its deep ties to Cyprus and 
Turkey, can play a productive role in facilitating these discussions. I 
also urge the Government of Turkey to step up and be a constructive 
partner throughout this process.
  It has been my experience that intractable problems rarely have 
simple or easy solutions, so I am not under any illusions about this. 
But I have seen what folks can accomplish when they set ideology aside, 
and I remain a believer in a just settlement that brings an end to 40 
years of division and reunites Cyprus.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, in my capacity as chairman of the Helsinki 
Commission, I wish to draw attention to the fact that July 20 marked 
the 40th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by a Turkish army. 
Sadly, this year also marks more than 50 years since a power-sharing 
arrangement between the two communities on Cyprus collapsed following 
independence from Britain. As the situation in the eastern 
Mediterranean and the wider Middle East is becoming more volatile and 
fragile, it is time to end the forcible division of Cyprus, which has 
endured for far too long.
  The continued presence of Turkish troops in the northern part of 
Cyprus exacerbates a number of human rights concerns including property 
restitution, restrictions on freedom of worship, and damage to 
religious and archeological sites. I have consistently raised these 
concerns and want to emphasize that all religious sites in the north 
must be protected.
  It is gratifying that the Government of Cyprus remains fully 
committed to the U.N.-sponsored process to reach a sustainable and 
enduring settlement that would reunify Cyprus based on a bizonal, 
bicommunal federation in accordance with relevant U.N. Security Council 
resolutions.
  The joint statement agreed to by Greek Cypriot President Anastasiades 
and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on the island in February of 
this year lays a solid foundation for results-oriented talks. The basic 
parameters for a solution laid out in the statement should be fully 
respected.
  I applaud the efforts of both leaders to move this process forward. 
Following the signing of the joint statement in February, President 
Anastasiades called the chance for peace a ``win-win situation.'' ``I 
believe that a solution that would be accepted by the Greek Cypriots 
would create stability in the region. Greater cooperation with Turkish 
Cypriots will contribute to foster growth . . . to do that you have to 
have a settlement that is not at the expense of one community or to the 
benefit of the other,'' he said.
  After meeting in April with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 
Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said that during negotiations with 
Greek Cypriot President Anastasiades, ``we'll try to bridge our 
differences and find a comprehensive settlement in the shortest 
possible time.'' ``We can finalize a settlement and take it to a 
separate simultaneous referenda in 2014.''
  Many observers believe the discovery of vast offshore oil and natural 
gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean could be a game changer in 
pressing negotiations forward and could potentially also act as a 
stabilizing and unifying factor in the eastern Mediterranean. The 
cheapest and most expeditious way of exporting the reserves, discovered 
first by Israel and then by Cyprus, would be through an underwater 
pipeline to Turkey. I certainly

[[Page S5124]]

hope this potential for economic empowerment for all of the people of 
Cyprus will help both communities to visualize and then implement a 
final settlement.
  In keeping with the numerous U.N. resolutions on Cyprus and the 
principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, it is time for Turkey 
to remove its troops from the island. The people of Cyprus cannot wait 
another 40 years for reconciliation.

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