[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13493-13494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH INVASION OF 
                                 CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. McMAHON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2010

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 36th 
anniversary of the division of the Island of Cyprus.
  Thirty-six years ago, Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island 
of Cyprus and divided a community. While time may heal all wounds, the 
wounds of the division of Cyprus remain fresh today with thousands of 
Turkish troops continuing to occupy the northern third of the Island, 
with continuing support from the Ankara based government.
  The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union, a strong 
ally of the United States and a stable democracy in the Mediterranean. 
The Republic has opened the benefits of EU citizenship to both Greek 
and Turkish Cypriots on both sides of the divide. Since 2003 there have 
been confidence building exchanges and partnerships between the two 
communities and the residents have the ability to travel freely between 
the Republic of Cyprus and the occupied North.
  With all these positive developments happening, some things still 
remain intractable.

[[Page 13494]]

  The Turkish troop levels continue to be at the level present thirty-
six years ago and Greek religious sites in the North still suffer from 
neglect. Communities may be free to travel but the Island is still 
divided based on ethnicity.
  Bringing the Greek and Turkish communities together in a bi-zonal, 
bi-communal federation is the goal of President Obama, the European 
Union and most importantly it is the goal of the Cypriot people. On the 
thirty-sixth anniversary of the division of Cyprus, I urge both Cypriot 
President Demetrius Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis 
Eroglu to re-double their efforts to insure the removal of Turkish 
troops, free movement between the Greek and Turkish communities and for 
a final end to the division of the Island. The time is now for us as a 
Congress and with our President's commitment to move Cyprus to a future 
of peace and prosperity.

                          ____________________