Frank Pallone: “Last week, peace negotiations finally resumed over the 30-year Cyprus conflict. After reaching the end of the road last…”

“Last week, peace negotiations finally resumed over the 30-year Cyprus conflict. After reaching the end of the road last March, thanks to what was described at the time by officials close to the negotiations as intransigence on the part of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, the Turkish-Cypriot leader finally agreed to return to the negotiating table with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos. The framework by which the two are now negotiating is a plan written by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. While the Secretary General's proposal serves as a starting off point, it should by no means serve as the final agreement to finally unify the nation of Cyprus. Unfortunately, there are parts of the Annan plan that makes it virtually impossible for an established government to function. In fact, there are sections of the plan that would make the island country less democratic than it was after an agreement imposed against Greek Cypriots during the Cold War back in 1959. Mr. Speaker, the Annan plan in my opinion is undemocratic.”