[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      35TH COMMEMORATION OF THE INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2009

  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 35th 
Commemoration of the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. In 1974, the 
Turkish Military invaded Cyprus, and 35 years later, the military still 
occupies over one-third of the island. The invasion and subsequent 
occupation led to the deaths of thousands and the forced displacement 
of nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots.
  Fortunately, President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, 
Mr. Talat, have made several agreements to improve relationships 
between the two communities on the island, and the settlement 
negotiations are ongoing. It is my hope that these negotiations will 
yield a bi-communal, bizonal federation for Cyprus that adheres to UN 
resolutions.
  I rise today to stand with the people of Cyprus to seek a long 
overdue solution to this decades-long division. To succeed, a 
settlement effort should be of the Cypriots, by the Cypriots and for 
the Cypriots.

                          ____________________