[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13446-13447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to join my colleagues on the 
House floor, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.

[[Page 13447]]

Maloney), to remember a horrific act taken by Turkey against the 
citizens of Cyprus 28 years ago.
  On July 28, 1974, the nation of Turkey violated international law 
when it brutally invaded the sovereign Republic of Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of September 11 and the horrific acts 
of terror that were inflicted upon thousands of innocent Americans in 
New York and Washington, it is important that this Congress and the 
American people recognize the events in Cyprus 28 years ago as an act 
of terror. Turkey illegally used American-supplied airplanes, bombs, 
and tanks in an act of terror against the people of Cyprus. This terror 
did not end with the invasion of the island. Instead, more than 200,000 
people were forcibly displaced from their homes and a large number of 
Cypriot people who were captured during the invasion are still missing 
today.
  Last year, the European Court of Human Rights rebuked the Turkish 
government when the court overwhelmingly found them guilty of massive 
human rights violations over the last 28 years in a scathing 146-page 
decision. In the case of Cyprus v. Turkey, the court concluded Turkey 
has not done enough to investigate the whereabouts of Greek-Cypriot 
missing persons who disappeared during life-threatening situations 
after the occupation. The court also found Turkey guilty of refusing to 
allow the return of any displaced Greek-Cypriots to their homes in 
Northern Cyprus. Families continue to be separated by the 113-mile 
barbed wire fence that runs across the island.
  Mr. Speaker, it is expected that by the end of this year, Cyprus will 
be approved for accession into the European Union. The United States 
has strongly supported the Cyprus EU bid. EU membership will bring 
significant benefits to both the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot 
communities.
  Last year, a bipartisan House Resolution was introduced in the House 
expressing the sense of Congress that security, reconciliation, and 
prosperity for all Cypriots can be best achieved within the context of 
membership in the European Union, which will provide significant rights 
and obligations for all Cypriots, and for other purposes. I am hopeful 
that this Congress will approve that resolution as a strong sign of 
support for Cyprus's accession to the European Union.
  Officials from the EU continue to reiterate that a peace settlement 
is not a precondition to Cyprus's accession to the European Union. 
Regardless of whether or not an agreement is reached, the entire island 
of Cyprus will be recognized as one country within the European Union. 
Ideally, a settlement will be reached later on this year.
  Now, we know that hopes of a settlement continue, but at the end of 
discussions last month, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, 
Clerides, said the peace talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash 
were at a deadlock and that large differences remain.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come for the Bush administration to apply 
pressure on the Turkish side and, in particular, on the Turkish 
government so that they can convince Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash to 
alter his current uncompromising stance. It is time for Denktash to 
negotiate in good faith in order to reach a comprehensive settlement 
within the framework provided for by the relevant United Nations 
Security Council's resolutions. These resolutions establish a bizonal, 
bicommunal federation with a single international personality and 
sovereignty and a single citizenship for all of Cyprus.

                          ____________________