Commemorating the 34th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus

Friday July 25, 2008

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the dark day 34 years ago this week in which Turkey illegally invaded the island of Cyprus. I rise in honor of the thousands of Cypriots who lost their lives or whose fate remains unknown, and in honor of the hundreds of thousands who were exiled from their homes. I would like to share my sympathy for their losses as well as my hope for a brighter, peaceful future for the island. The 34 unjust years of occupation must come to an end.

July 20, 1974 marks the beginning of a tragic era in Cypriot history. The Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern region of Cyprus has proved an affront to human rights and the rule of law. Hundreds of thousands of Greek Cypriots have suffered serious abuses of fundamental rights and freedoms. Their property has been illegally seized, their land has been settled, and many of their religious and cultural treasures have been damaged, destroyed, or illegally transferred abroad.

Turkey's military hold over northern Cyprus has persisted over three decades despite condemnation by the international community and nearly 100 U.N. resolutions requesting the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the island, the return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes and properties and above all, respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. Indeed, I authored a resolution which passed the House in 1995 calling for the demilitarization of Cyprus. While Turkey is a friend and ally of the United States, the time has come for Ankara to relinquish its grasp on Cyprus. Enough is enough.

Recent events have raised hopes for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus' accession to the European Union in 2004 was pivotal in the processes of integration and mutual development. The Turkish Cypriot population of over 90,000 benefit daily from rapidly increasing per capita income and the Government of Cyprus' provision of free education and medical and social services. In sum, the Government of Cyprus has provided nearly one billion dollars in tangible benefits to the Turkish Cypriot community. Along with hundreds of thousands of crossings between the Turkish occupied zone and the rest of the Republic of Cyprus, this progress has contributed to an environment of increasing trust and cooperation in which a peacefully negotiated solution may be pursued.

Since his election in February 2008, President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has made resolution of the Cyprus problem his top priority and principal concern. He has reached out to Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Mehmet Talat and called on him to cooperate face to face in order to implement a solution that honors relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions, the High Level Agreements of 1977, 1979 and July 8, 2006 and the values and fundamental principles on which the European Union is founded.

In March, President Christofias and Mr. Talat agreed to establish a number of Working Groups and Technical Committees as stipulated in the July 8 Agreement. The House of Representatives expressed its full support in H. Res. 405, which I cosponsored, for these actions as the ground on which to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading to Cyprus' reunification within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

After several meetings earlier this year between the two parties and in the spirit of the opening in April of a symbolic crossing through the U.N.-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, the world's last divided capital, I am proud to report that tomorrow, President Christofias and Mr. Talat will meet again to undertake the final review of the Working Groups and Technical Committees.

I ask each of my colleagues in the House to join me in support of this positive effort to realize full-fledged negotiations. We must urge Turkey to respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all citizens of Cyprus while exhibiting the political will that would enable a solution which will bring peace, prosperity and a better future for all the citizens of a united Cyprus.