[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9816-9817]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR RENEWED EFFORT TO FIND PEACEFUL, JUST, AND 
                LASTING SETTLEMENT TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
expressing my support for renewed efforts to find a peaceful, just, and 
lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. Such a resolution is 
consonant with American values of promoting stability, freedom, and 
democracy around the globe.
  I strongly support a unified Cyprus. I am disappointed that the 
recent historic opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue has failed, 
despite the hard work of United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan over the 
last several years, to bring the parties together and to facilitate an 
agreement.
  I am disturbed that today, some 35,000 Turkish soldiers, armed with 
the latest weapons, are still stationed in the occupied area of Cyprus, 
making it, according to the United Nations Secretary-General, one of 
the most militarized regions in the world. At an estimated cost of $300 
million annually, Turkey continues to defy the international community 
and the U.N. resolutions with its policies towards Cyprus. Eighty-five 
thousand Turks have been

[[Page 9817]]

brought over from Turkey to colonize the occupied area with the aim of 
changing the demography of the island and controlling the political 
situation. The Greek Cypriot community that remains enclaved within the 
occupied villages continues to live under conditions of oppression, 
harassment, and deprivation.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has a national interest in fostering 
peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean region. We as a Nation 
cannot continue to pretend our NATO partner is not in clear violation 
of international law for its continued illegal occupation of its 
neighbor.
  We in the United States pride ourselves for our respect for 
fundamental freedoms. Human rights norms are the cornerstone of U.S. 
foreign policy. It is time, Mr. Speaker, for Turkey to end its 
longstanding occupation of Cyprus.
  Despite recent setbacks, I am still optimistic that the Cyprus 
situation can be peacefully and amicably resolved.

                          ____________________