[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3740-H3741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise for this Special Order to 
commemorate the 47th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, 
and to further call attention and demand action on the continued 
Turkish settlement of Varosha.
  On July 20, 1974, a very sad day, Turkey invaded the Republic of 
Cyprus and violently captured the northern part of the island and 
established a heavily armed occupation force that continues to control 
nearly 37 percent of Cyprus' territory.
  As a result of this flagrant violation of international law, 160,000 
Greek Cypriots, 70 percent of the population of the occupied area, were 
forcibly expelled from their homes. In addition, approximately 5,000 
Cypriots were killed, including five Americans, Mr. Speaker, of Cypriot 
descent.

                              {time}  1845

  More than 1,400 Greek Cypriots remain missing since the Turkish 
invasion, and their fate is still unknown.
  Greek and Turkish Cypriots were forcibly divided along ethnic lines 
and remain so to this day. It is utterly baffling why over the past 47 
years the U.S., the E.U., the U.N. and the international community writ 
large have failed to take meaningful action against Turkey for the 
invasion and subsequent occupation of Cyprus.
  Indeed, lack of action has emboldened Turkey to treat the occupied 
north of Cyprus as an unannexed province of Turkey where Erdogan seeks 
to, among other things, build a presidential palace, presumably as a 
precursor to the caliphate he expects to lead.
  Decades of failed reunification attempts have jaded even the most 
optimistic of us.
  Today, after President Erdogan defied warnings from the U.S. and the 
international community, as well as U.N. Security Council resolutions 
and went ahead and changed the status of Varosha, there can no longer 
be any doubt that with Erdogan leading Turkey and Ersin Tatar leading 
the Turkish Cypriot community, there will be no Cyprus solutions, 
sadly.
  The tragic story of Varosha is perhaps the true embodiment of the 
permanent harm Turkey's direct interference has had on the island. Once 
holding international renown as a premier tourist destination, it has 
fallen into a state of dilapidation--sadly, Mr. Speaker, and I did 
witness it myself--after its lawful inhabitants were forced to flee in 
the face of the Turkish invasion.
  Varosha, particularly the resettlement of its lawful inhabitants, has 
long been a central issue in the negotiations for Cypriot 
reunification. However, Turkey continues to unilaterally threaten the 
noble dream of one people, one border, one Cyprus.
  Unfortunately, it was not by coincidence that Erdogan chose this 
day--the anniversary of the fateful Turkish invasion of Cyprus--to take 
this illegal action. I emphasize ``illegal,'' Mr. Speaker.
  Although the events of the Turkish invasion 47 years ago are not new, 
I feel it is important that the severity of the invasion and its 
lasting effects are not understated or forgotten. We must never forget.
  It was then, the Turkish forces ethnically cleansed and then fenced 
off the beautiful area of Varosha, holding it hostage for decades as a 
bargaining chip in reunification negotiations. All despite the two 
Cypriot communities' intention to reach an agreement on the 
resettlement of its lawful inhabitants. The 1979 High Level Agreement 
made it clear that the resettlement of Varosha was a unified Cypriot 
priority, that both sides were open to such acts of goodwill, and that 
the United Nations should play a role in the resolution of the Cyprus 
problem.
  However, the status quo radically changed in 2019 when the Turkish 
occupation authorities announced their intention, sadly, to open 
Varosha to Turkish settlement, directly contradicting the United 
Nation's role and legitimacy on the issue, specifically U.N. Security 
Council Resolutions 482, 550, 789, and 2483.
  Back in October of 2019, I even wrote that the Turkish settlement of 
Varosha would be a step in the completely wrong direction of what the 
Cypriot people want--and I have spoken to the Cypriot people--which is 
the eventual reunification of Cyprus.
  The Republic of Cyprus continues to maintain the return of Varosha as 
a

[[Page H3741]]

cornerstone of confidence building measures with the Turkish Cypriots, 
including joint ventures seeking to restore the dilapidated city.
  Indeed, the present government of the Republic of Cyprus proposed a 
confidence building measure that would have turned Varosha over to U.N. 
control and allowed the Turkish-Cypriot port Famagusta to trade with 
the world under E.U. designation.
  And Famagusta is a wonderful place. I had relatives that had to leave 
during the invasion in 1974, Mr. Speaker. They lost their homes, they 
lost their livelihoods, and they moved to Athens. But, again, a 
beautiful place, and it is a very sad situation. And it is action we 
need, not words, and that is why I am here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to 
educate the American public and the Members of Congress.
  So the Erdogan government, Mr. Speaker, and the Turkish occupation 
authorities in Cyprus rejected this win-win proposal and decided to 
keep this one time jewel--and it is a jewel--of the eastern 
Mediterranean sadly, a ghost town.
  Turkish Cypriots, in particular, want to be part of the E.U. and 
share in all the economic benefits that their compatriots, the Greek 
Cypriots, enjoy. We support them in their efforts and condemn Erdogan 
for using Turkish Cypriots as pawns. That is exactly what he is doing. 
He is using them as pawns to help bolster his dismal record on Turkey's 
economy.
  The world knows that Erdogan is desperate and trying to distract from 
his failed leadership in Turkey. With his sinking poll numbers, Erdogan 
must shore up his nationalist base ahead of Turkey's 2023 election. 
That is what this is all about. That is why he has converted his 
rhetoric into action and moved to reopen parts of Varosha for Turkish 
recreation and tourism. It is outrageous, and it must be stopped.
  We need to speak up now before it is too late, and fight for the 
dream and hope of an eventual Cypriot reunification. These are our 
allies. These are great allies, Mr. Speaker.
  The United States, the U.N., the E.U. cannot simply continue to just 
simply offer its sentiments and vocal displeasure. They must match 
their displeasure with action, not limited to U.N. management of 
Varosha as outlined in U.N. Security Council Resolution 550, diplomatic 
isolation, or sanctions, not limited to just that.
  The permanent Turkish settlement of Varosha without justice to the 
Cypriots who had their homes unlawfully taken from them should be the 
final red line for the international community that cannot be crossed. 
We, the international community, have an opportunity and an obligation 
to stand and fight for justice for our ally, the Cypriot people.

  The Cypriot people have a right to their dream of a united Cyprus 
without direct interference from the Turks, and the displaced Cypriots 
are entitled to return to their homes in beautiful Varosha.
  The United States must take real action and let Erdogan know in very 
clear terms that the U.S. will no longer put up with the blatant 
exploitation of the Cypriot people. And that is what it has been all 
these years.
  Last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led in part by my good 
friend, Marco Rubio, called for the Biden administration to pursue 
multilateral sanctions if Turkey changes the status of Varosha. Senator 
Menendez has also been a great leader in this area, too.
  Turkey crossed that Rubicon today. And like it did when we warned 
them not to go ahead with the Russian S400 purchases, they thumbed 
their nose at the United States Congress, the State Department, and the 
White House.
  It is time that Turkey be held accountable for acting contrary to 
U.S. policy, U.S. interests, and U.S. law. And I ask this House to echo 
the call by the Senators asking the Biden administration to pursue 
multilateral sanctions in response to Turkey's flagrant violations of 
international law.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________