[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                    SUPPORT REUNIFICATION OF CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge this Administration to 
join in the efforts to reach a reunification agreement on the island of 
Cyprus.
   For many years, international organizations have been engaged in the 
efforts to bring about a negotiated compromise to the dispute in Cyprus 
and a reunification of the island. These negotiations have been focused 
around coming to a solution which benefits both Cypriot communities.
   On July 7, 2011, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met 
with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva in a new effort to 
reach a deal on reunification. Secretary Ban Ki-Moon is pushing both 
sides to come to an agreement before Cyprus takes up a steering role in 
the European Union. This was the third round of three-way talks that 
Secretary Ban Ki-Moon has held with Cyprus Leader Demetris Christofias 
and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.
   I stand today to ask the Administration to take an active role to 
bring about a solution that would benefit both Cypriot communities. 
This ongoing disagreement is not helpful and reunification of Cyprus 
will only benefit the world community.
   Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 
Philip Gordon, testified that ``resolution of the Cyprus problem will 
have a tremendous impact on the region by strengthening peace, justice, 
and prosperity on the island, advancing Turkey's European Union 
accession, improving NATO-EU cooperation and removing a source of 
friction between two NATO Allies, Greece and Turkey.''
   I wholeheartedly agree and urge the Administration to take action to 
ensure that an accord is achieved that would lead to an independent 
government with both Greek and Turkish Cypriot governmental engagement.

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