[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                                 CYPRUS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this summer marks the 40th year since the 
Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the division of the island into Greek 
and Turkish zones. That division has led to great hardships on both 
sides of the divide and been a source of some instability in a part of 
the world--the eastern Mediterranean--that already is far too unstable. 
It is profoundly in the interests of the United States, our friends and 
allies in the region, and the Cypriot people, both Greek and Turkish, 
to resolve this dispute and achieve the goal of a unified Cyprus.
  The division of Cyprus has had profoundly negative consequences for 
its people and the region. Cyprus has been a source of ongoing tension 
between two important NATO allies, Greece and Turkey. The division has 
stunted Cyprus economically and politically. Tragically, the line has 
divided families for four decades. None of this is in the interests of 
Greece, Turkey, the United States, our allies, or the world. That is 
why the United States supports the creation of a bizonal, bicommunal 
federation as envisioned by numerous United Nations Security Council 
resolutions.
  It is unfortunate that, four decades after the island's division, we 
have yet to achieve that goal. It is long overdue that Cyprus be 
unified. And there are reasons today to believe that goal is closer. In 
February, U.N.-sponsored talks between Greek and Turkish leaders 
restarted after a 2-year halt. They agreed to a roadmap for further 
negotiations and, importantly, committed to build a positive atmosphere 
surrounding the talks, including important confidence-building measures 
designed to help ease 40 years of mistrust. Little over a week ago 
negotiators met and committed to progress on outstanding issues in 
advance of their next meeting on September 2.
  It is vitally important that negotiators continue to build momentum 
toward peace and unity on the island because so much is at stake. The 
discovery of large natural gas reserves off the island's coast promises 
a newly prosperous future for Cyprus and its people, but it will be far 
more difficult, if not impossible, to fully capitalize on that 
opportunity in the absence of peace and unity.
  The United States should continue to work closely with all sides in 
pursuit of the peaceful reunification of Cyprus that is so long 
overdue.

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