On the recordJuly 20, 2021
I thank the Congresswoman for yielding. I appreciate it very much. I want to speak today about the 47th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of the tiny island of Cyprus. For the last 47 years, Turkish troops have occupied the north of that island which is a direct violation of human rights. They have taken that opportunity to engage in disruption and desecration of cultural and religious sites. Today, President Erdogan of Turkey visited Cyprus on this day, the 47th anniversary of the Turkish occupation. Why did he come? Was it to negotiate in good faith for a solution to the division of the island? No. Did he come to apologize for the continued occupation of the island? No. He came to announce the reopening of the beach town of Varosha in direct contravention of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 550 which ``considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible.'' Varosha was a once-bustling resort town. It was an international tourist destination in the Famagusta district of the Republic of Cyprus. But with the advance of Turkey's invading forces to the town in August of 1974, Varosha's native Greek Cypriot population fled for their lives.…





