Wendy Sherman: “I rise once again today with the gentleman from Florida and my other colleagues to mark a somber anniversary--the 24th…”

“I rise once again today with the gentleman from Florida and my other colleagues to mark a somber anniversary--the 24th Anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, 1974. Time and time again over the last 24 years the United States Congress has reaffirmed its commitment to a just and peaceful resolution to the Cyprus conflict. Last year this Congress passed the ``Peace in Cyprus'' Resolution, by overwhelming majorities, calling for the full withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and an early substantive resolution of the conflict. Last year at this time we expressed hope in the U.S. brokered talks on Cyprus. No matter how firm our commitment, no matter how deep our resolve, however, the breakdown of the most recent talks and indeed the repeated failures of the last 24 years, demonstrate that negotiations cannot go forward, progress cannot be made, if one of the parties is unwilling to negotiate. U.S. Presidential Envoy Richard Holbrooke acknowledged as much, blaming the breakdown of negotiations on Turkish intransigence. Rather than negotiate in good faith, the Turkish side set ridiculous preconditions, demanding recognition as a state and withdrawal of the Cypriot application to the EU. Recognition of the puppet regime in occupied Cyprus would violate international law and legitimize Turkish aggression.”