[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12673]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           DIVISION IN CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 2013

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, in mid-May, twenty-three of my colleagues 
joined me in sending a letter to the Secretary General of the United 
Nations to encourage the newly elected Greek Cypriot leader and his 
Turkish Cypriot counterpart to resume talks aimed at expediently 
resolving the ongoing dispute over a divided Cyprus. A negotiated and 
mutually acceptable comprehensive settlement, based on a bi-zonal and 
bi-communal federation is vital to the region. I support international 
and domestic efforts to achieve such a resolution and urge the House of 
Representatives to encourage constructive dialogue between the two 
sides. In 2003, the House unanimously adopted H. Res. 165 in support of 
the Annan Plan, which would have approved the creation of a reunified 
Partnership State in Cyprus as a loose federation of two component 
states--the Greek Cypriot State and the Turkish Cypriot State. 
Unfortunately, this historic opportunity was rejected by Greek Cypriots 
through a referendum on the island.
  Although a majority of Turkish Cypriots approved the peace plan also 
by referendum, an opportunity of historic proportions was missed. Many 
would attribute the Greek Cypriots rejection of the Annan Plan and pro-
division choice to becoming European Union (EU) members, which followed 
this move. At that time, it was believed that EU accession was 
predicated on solving this division after the fact. Subsequently, there 
has been no progress in this regard, further indicating a pro-division 
State. While the Greek Cypriots enjoy recognition as a sovereign state, 
there has been no imputes for them to solve the problem. Despite 
promises made to Turkish Cypriots over and over again, they still 
remain isolated.
  Over ten years have gone by without any progress on this issue. This 
year may once again be a year of opportunity to put an end to the 
status quo. We should be courageous enough to encourage a solution in 
Cyprus, and creative enough to promote a more secure, stable and 
prosperous Eastern Mediterranean where Greece, Turkey, a unified 
Cyprus, together with their allies and partners in the region, work 
together to build a better future.
  With the firm belief that such an outcome is not only achievable, but 
will also set an invaluable example of peace and cooperation in the 
region and beyond, I urge the Administration to encourage the United 
Nations Secretary General to enhance his efforts in reaching a 
comprehensive and just solution in Cyprus.

                          ____________________