Gus Bilirakis: “God knows, as the gentleman has already indicated, the Congress, the United States Government as a whole really, has to…”

“God knows, as the gentleman has already indicated, the Congress, the United States Government as a whole really, has to be more resolute. Otherwise a solution will never be found. As the gentleman has already said, no government on earth recognizes the illegal occupation of northern Cyprus, except Turkey. Turkey has stationed 40,000 troops on Cyprus and has transplanted 80,000 settlers there and it is likely that the Turkish settlers and troops will soon out number the indigenous Turkish population on the island. The Greek Cypriots have repeatedly attempted to find a just and lasting solution to this more than two decades old problem. In December of 1993, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides submitted a reasonable and innovative proposal to the United Nations calling for the demilitarization of the island. In exchange for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, Cyprus would disband its national guard and transfer its military equipment to the U.N. peacekeeping force there. Cyprus would also fund an enlargement of the U.N. peacekeeping force. The money saved from defense spending would be used for development projects that would benefit both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Unfortunately, the Turkish side rejected this effort to end the tragic division. We have to ask ourselves who is really seeking a true peaceful solution to the problem of Cyprus? I think it is obvious.”