[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              TURKEY AND CYPRUS: THE TIME FOR PEACE IS NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 1 minute.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the 
House Committee on International Relations for his statement and for 
his long-standing support and leadership in educating us all on this 
issue.
  I rise today to join him and other colleagues, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone), who will follow, in acknowledging this tragic 
invasion of Cyprus by the government of Turkey.
  We are here, as we heard the Chairman say, for the 26th anniversary 
of the hostile assault on Cyprus which unlawfully led to the 
declaration of independence by the Turkish Cypriots.
  Mr. Speaker, time and time again, Turkey has violated international 
law, imposing a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation in 
the occupied areas. This has led to severe problems such as internally 
displaced refugees, violations of human rights, and the disappearance 
of over 1,400 Greek Cypriots.
  Mr. Speaker, Turkey is our ally. We give them military aid and other 
forms of assistance. It is about time that we demanded that this ally 
comply with the United Nations and end this deplorable crisis.
  The time for peace is now.

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