[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 CYPRUS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on July 20, 1974, Turkish forces invaded 
Cyprus. The hostilities that followed led to great destruction of life 
and property. Today, 34 years later, we pause to mourn those who lost 
their lives.
  Sadly, thousands of Turkish troops are still in Cyprus. The island 
remains divided, with significant distrust between the two sides.
  Since 1974, U.N. peacekeeping forces have had to maintain a buffer 
zone between the Turkish Cypriots in the north and the Greek Cypriots 
in the south.
  But today we have renewed hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem. 
The new peace process underway there offers the brightest opportunity 
we have had in many years to reunite the island.
  The election of the Greek Cypriot leader Christofias in February 
helped usher in a new era of opportunity.
  Along with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Talat, the two sides are 
making progress to help the United Nations-led negotiations on the 
future of Cyprus succeed.
  I commend both leaders for showing the political will needed to set 
the stage for a resolution.
  The leaders met for the first time on March 21 of this year. Soon 
after, in a demonstration of goodwill on both sides, they agreed to 
open a new crossing at Ledra Street in Nicosia.
  The leaders are working together to develop a timeline for future 
negotiations, including another meeting this Friday, on July 25. I urge 
both parties to demonstrate their commitment to peace negotiations at 
that time.
  I hope the United Nations will continue to play a constructive role 
in supporting the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders as they find a way 
forward.
  Cyprus's goal is to reunify the island as a bicommunal, bizonal 
federation. Resolution of the Cyprus problem would untie so many other 
knots, with implications for Europe and beyond. I encourage both sides 
to use this moment of opportunity, and continue their important work 
with the United Nations, to achieve this goal.

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