[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19295]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, this week, we commemorate the 35th 
anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Over a third of a 
century ago, more than 200,000 Cypriots were driven from their homes 
and forced to live under foreign occupation. We are at a critical 
juncture in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for all Cypriots, and I 
urge all parties to move toward a peaceful resolution and reunification 
effort that will build a more united and prosperous Cyprus.
  There is a strong view that any solution to the Cyprus problem must 
include a bicommunal, bi-zonal federal State of Cyprus. The 
international community has stressed that this should include a single 
sovereignty and a single citizenship, with its independence and 
territorial integrity safeguarded, and comprising two politically equal 
communities as described by the relevant UN Security Council 
Resolutions.
  I welcome the renewed interest in the efforts for a lasting solution. 
Under initiatives undertaken by President Christofias since his 
election in 2008, there is a movement which I hope will finally lead to 
a comprehensive solution to the problems facing Cyprus.
  The leaders of the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot communities have 
demonstrated a strong commitment by holding more than 35 rounds of 
direct talks starting on September 3, 2008, and continuing on a regular 
basis. These ongoing reunification talks between the two Cypriot 
leaders offer real opportunity to advance peace and work toward a just 
and lasting reunification. If there is commitment to establishing one 
prosperous Cyprus in which all people benefit from good relations with 
the international community and membership in the EU, we must resolve 
to do everything we can to make this goal a reality.
  I am confident the Cypriots' desire to reunify their country, to 
bring peace and prosperity throughout the region, and ultimately to 
stand up for what they believe in, will prevail. I sincerely hope a 
solution to reuniting the island of Cyprus will be reached under a 
government that safeguards basic human rights and democracy and 
respects the fundamental freedoms of the people as a whole.

                          ____________________