[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

  (Mr. SARBANES asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 36th 
anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Turkey's invasion and 
continued occupation of this tiny island republic is a symptom of 
Turkey's indifference to human rights, religious tolerance, and 
democratic values.
  Today, Turkey continues to illegally resettle some 180,000 Anatolian 
Turks into the homes and possessions of the 200,000 Greek Cypriots 
evicted from the occupied territories. The Turkish military is also 
systematically eradicating Hellenic and Christian heritage, with all 
but five of the 500 Greek Orthodox Churches located there having been 
looted, desecrated or destroyed.
  On this, the 36th anniversary of the invasion and occupation of 
Cyprus, the United States should demand an immediate withdrawal of the 
45,000 Turkish soldiers now occupying northern Cyprus, and should 
continue to press this issue in every interaction with Turkish 
officials. This will promote a values-based alliance with Turkey that 
will serve to bring justice to the people of Cyprus, strengthen NATO, 
and reinforce collective western security.

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