[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13492-13493]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH PEACE OPERATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2010

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 36th 
anniversary of the Turkish peace operation which prevented an attempt 
by Greece to annex the island of Cyprus. Although peace prevails in 
Cyprus today, the social, economic and political development of the 
Turkish Cypriots has been restricted for more than four decades.
  Despite their continued commitment to achieving a just and lasting 
settlement that respects the political equality of the two peoples on 
the island, the Turkish Cypriot people are still waiting for the 
international community to honor the promises it made to them that 
their isolation would be listed. While the Greek Cypriots were given 
full membership in the European Union, despite rejecting a United 
Nations plan to unify the island, Turkish Cyprus is still largely 
isolated from the international community.
  Madam Speaker, if the process is to move forward toward a lasting 
settlement it is important that the United States Congress recognize 
the unwavering commitment of the Turkish Cypriot people to unify the 
island and encourage the lifting of their isolation.
  The current opportunity for a settlement arises from the ongoing 
negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United Nations 
Secretary-General. The Turkish Cypriot side needs to be commended for 
the seriousness and commitment it has displayed in the negotiations. I 
would particularly like to applaud the new Turkish Cypriot president, 
Dr. Dervis Eroglu, who wasted no time after his election in resuming 
negotiations. It is time that this positive stance of the Turkish 
Cypriots be reciprocated. The Greek Cypriots should be encouraged to 
respond in kind to these gestures of good will.
  We now find ourselves at a critical juncture in the history of 
Turkish and Greek Cypriot relations. It is vital that the United States 
joins a number of other voices in the international community who hope 
that a mutually acceptable settlement might be reached. In order to 
promote the spirit of good will generated during the recent meetings, I 
encourage this body to seize this opportunity to support the two 
Cypriot leaders as they work toward reunification.

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