[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 18406]]

       ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2001

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that 
I speak today in honor of the 41st anniversary of the Republic of 
Cyprus. It was on October 1 in 1960, that Cyprus became an independent 
republic after decades of British colonial rule.
  I am very fortunate and privileged to represent Astoria, Queens--one 
of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot 
Americans in this country.
  It is truly one of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress to 
be able to participate in the life of this community, and the wonderful 
and vital Cypriot friends that I have come to know are one of its 
greatest rewards.
  Cyprus and the United States have a great deal in common. We share a 
deep and abiding commitment to democracy, human rights, free markets, 
and the ideal and practice of equal justice under the law.
  While we are pleased to celebrate this joyous day in Cyprus history, 
it is with a heavy heart in light of the September 11 terrorist 
attacks. I am deeply appreciative to the people of Cyprus and the 
Cypriot-American community who have extended their voices of support 
and have expressed strong condemnation for the terrorist attacks. In 
fact, within hours of the attacks, Cyprus President, Glafcos Clerides, 
strongly denounced the terrorist acts.
  Unfortunately, Cyprus is not without its own difficult history; 37 
percent of this nation is still occupied by a hostile foreign power, 
and it has been for more than 25 years.
  On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to 
maintain an estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops. Nearly 200,000 Greek 
Cypriots, who fell victim to a policy of ethnic cleansing, were 
forcibly evicted from their homes and became refugees in their own 
country.
  Every year, on or around July 20, 1, along with my dear friend 
Representative Bilirakis, sponsor a Special Order to remember the 
anniversary of the Turkish invasion in a tradition that has become one 
of our proudest traditions.
  Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the ongoing Turkish 
occupation, Cyprus has registered remarkable economic growth, and the 
people living in the Government-controlled areas enjoy one of the 
world's highest standards of living. Sadly, the people living in the 
occupied area continue to be mired in poverty.
  Today, Cyprus is one of the leading candidate nations to join the 
European Union in the next round of expansion, in 3 to 4 years.
  While we are hopeful that a unified Cyprus will join the EU, 
fortunately, it is not a precondition to accession as the leader of the 
Turkish Cypriot side, Rauf Denktash has continued to balk at resuming 
peace talks. He rejected U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's invitation 
to resume talks for a unified Cyprus.
  In the times we are facing, it is clear that divisions among people 
create harmful, destructive environments. The United States has 
expressed its unwavering support for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus 
problem and I wholeheartedly agree. The relationship between Cyprus and 
the United States is strong and enduring. We stand together in this 
bittersweet time, celebrating democracy and freedom while mourning a 
horrific tragedy.
  Thank you.

                          ____________________