[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               IT'S TIME TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN CYPRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE CHABOT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring renewed attention to 
the ongoing difficulties taking place on the island of Cyprus.
  This decades-long struggle to find common ground for an agreement 
between the two people on the island--Greek Cypriots and Turkish 
Cypriots--has frustrated many in the United States and the 
international community. Cyprus occupies an important geo-political, 
economic and strategic region for the United States.
  As a member of the European Union, the island of Cyprus remains 
divided. This is in spite of the Turkish Cypriots approving 3 to 1, and 
the Greek Cypriots defeating by a similar margin, the United Nations 
Peace Plan of 2004--which foresaw a comprehensive settlement to the 
decades-old dispute through a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on 
the political equality of both sides. Instead of a fair and prosperous 
agreement for both sides, the Turkish Cypriots remain isolated from the 
international community.
  Almost ten years have elapsed. And leaders on both sides of the 
island offer promising hope for serious and substantial talks to take 
place. Although previous talks were outlined with difficulties, and a 
major push for peace failed in 2004, we must not let this deter our-
will to resolve an issue that is so important to American interests.
  An agreement will take political courage from both sides. But the 
United States should do--everything it can--to support both sides in 
this process. The Eastern Mediterranean is a region of key strategic 
importance to U.S. interests, and a settlement in Cyprus with active 
American involvement and contribution will no doubt set a long-deserved 
example of peaceful relations and economic cooperation.

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