Frank Pallone: “I am proud to join with several of my colleagues this evening in celebrating the 185th anniversary of Greek independence…”

“I am proud to join with several of my colleagues this evening in celebrating the 185th anniversary of Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. In the years since Greek independence, Americans and Greeks have grown ever closer, bound by ties of strategic and military alliance, common values of democracy, individual freedom, human rights, and close personal friendship. Madam Speaker, while we celebrate Greek independence this evening, it is also important that we recognize that Greece continues to battle oppression from present-day Turkey in Cyprus. It is crucial our Nation work with the United Nations and the Government of Cyprus to once again unify the island. However, I am deeply concerned that our government's recent actions will actually make it more difficult to reunify Cyprus. The U.S. State Department and Secretary Rice seem much more interested in rewarding those who illegally occupied the northern third of the nation back in 1974 than actually reunifying the islands. Over the past year, our State Department decided to allow Americans to fly into the occupied north, something that has not been permitted since the illegal occupation took place back in 1974. Last year, I joined many of my colleagues from the Congressional Hellenic Caucus in sending a letter expressing our deep concern regarding the legality of U.S. citizens flying directly from Turkey to the airport in northern Cyprus.…”