[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11766-11767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1040
               THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION OF CYPRUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only as a Member of this 
esteemed body, but also as a member of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee and as a cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic 
Issues.

[[Page 11767]]

  I stand before you today to recall a somber anniversary that has 
pained the Cypriot and Hellenic communities for the past 38 years. Mr. 
Speaker, even though the tragic events of the Turkish invasion of 
Cyprus took place long ago on July 20, 1974, the suffering of the 
victims has not subsided.
  This anniversary is a time for America to respectfully remember the 
brutal Turkish military invasion of Cyprus, to mourn those who lost 
their lives, and to condemn the continued occupation. Over 5,000 
Cypriots were killed in 1974, and more than 1,400 Greek Cypriots, 
including four Americans of Greek Cypriot descent, still remain 
missing. Since the invasion, Turkey has established a heavily armed 
military occupation that continues to control over 30 percent of 
Cyprus.
  Forced expulsions of Greek Cypriots on the occupied land have left 
nearly 200,000 people displaced. These Cypriots were kicked out of 
their homes, making them refugees in their own country, Mr. Speaker. 
These properties have been unlawfully distributed and are currently 
being used by tens of thousands of illegal settlers from Turkey. To 
this day, Greek Cypriots are prevented by Turkey from returning to 
their homes and properties.
  Another tragic result of this 38-year occupation is a division among 
Greek and Turkish Cypriots who have been forcibly separated along 
ethnic lines. This unnatural division of the island nation is a crime 
against society and a crime against the people of Cyprus that can only 
be resolved by ending Turkey's illegal occupation.
  Mr. Speaker, 38 years is too long. On the occasion of this 
anniversary, we need to take a long, hard look at our own commitment 
toward helping Cyprus reach a lasting and enduring peace free from 
occupation, division, and oppression.
  A few years ago, the U.S. House had the wisdom and foresight to 
unanimously pass H. Res. 405, a measure I introduced which expressed 
strong support from this body for the implementation of the July 8 
agreement.
  Last month Mr. Engel and I introduced H. Res. 676 to expose and halt 
the Republic of Turkey's illegal colonization of the Republic of Cyprus 
with non-Cypriot populations, to support Cyprus in its efforts to 
control all of its territories, to end Turkey's illegal occupation of 
Cyprus, and to allow Cyprus to exploit its energy resources without 
illegal interference from Turkey.
  The Republic of Cyprus has also worked alongside its European 
neighbors to bring about a stronger integration of Turkish and Greek 
Cypriot interests for the good of the island and its people. This has 
included a partial lifting on the restriction of movement across the 
cease-fire line that continues to forcibly divide Cyprus.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that because of this continued integration 
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and the economic and political 
successes that the Republic of Cyprus so readily wants to share with 
its neighbors, it is possible to bring closure to this 38-year 
occupation now as Cyprus takes over the EU presidency, the first time 
since its succession to the union in 2004.
  Cyprus has long been a strong and faithful ally of the United States. 
It continues to work with us in the global war on terrorism and has 
supported our efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Speaker, 38 
years is too long. It's long enough. It is time to have Cyprus, a 
Cyprus that is once again unified without Turkish occupation troops, 
foreign illegal settlers, where human rights is fundamental for all 
Cypriots.
  Every legal citizen of the republic of Cyprus, irrespective of 
national or religious background, is eligible currently to enjoy all 
rights provided for by the constitution and international convention 
signed by Cyprus. The only obstacle, Mr. Speaker, is the Government of 
Turkey.
  We Americans, as friends of the Cypriot people, owe it to them to do 
everything in our power to support peace and an end to Turkey's 38-year 
illegal occupation of Cyprus.

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