[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
            41ST ANNIVERSARY OF TURKEY'S 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 to mark an anniversary that 
has pained the Cypriot and Hellenic communities for 41 years.
  On July 20, 1974, 41 years ago yesterday, in blatant violation of 
international law, Turkey invaded Cyprus and captured much of the 
northern part of the island.
  Since the invasion, Turkey has occupied nearly 40 percent of Cyprus. 
They inhabit homes previously owned by Greek Cypriots, forcibly 
relocating 160,000 Greek Cypriots and infusing the island with hundreds 
of thousands of Turkish settlers. Another 1,500 Cypriots remain missing 
since the 1974 invasion, including four Americans whose remains have 
not been located.
  Religious artifacts and cultural relics have been destroyed in the 
wake of the Turkish Army's invasion and, after 41 years of 
displacement, are now lost to time. Hundreds of churches and 
monasteries have been shamefully desecrated, losing all sense of their 
historic and religious significance.
  Cyprus has been a steadfast ally, and Cypriots deserve an end to this 
senseless division.
  With negotiations underway again for reunification, let's hope this 
time next year we will be celebrating the end of this illegal 
occupation. As it builds, Turkey cannot be allowed to stonewall this 
democratic process any longer.
  Today the United States stands in a unique role as a friend of both 
Cyprus and Turkey. As an honest broker to both sides, we can help them 
to see that a unified future for Cyprus is far more promising than the 
present.
  The United States' relationship with all its allies--Turkey 
included--must be based on shared values and mutual respect. At the 
core, the rule of law must be respected above all else.
  Forty-one years of illegal occupation is 41 years too long. Cyprus 
has long been a strong and faithful ally of the United States, and we 
owe our support for both peace and the end of this illegal occupation.
  I encourage the Cypriot leaders to keep up the hard work of unifying 
a people divided for over a generation. Many hard issues remain, but, 
hopefully, this will be the last year we acknowledge this illegal 
occupation.

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