Political Quotes

“I come to the floor to speak on two separate and distinct topics. The first is about Cyprus. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion. We hoped it would have brought a fair settlement to the Cyprus question; that would have brought an end to a 40-year-long occupation and division of the island by Turkey. There is always cause for optimism and room for faith that the realization of a reunified Cyprus is in the near future. Global and regional dynamics have made the reunification of Cyprus a priority, driven in part by Cyprus's newly found energy resources. This is particularly true in light of Russia's Machiavellian-like power plays in Central Europe that have placed Cyprus and Israel at the forefront of the discussion of European energy security. The natural resources that have been discovered this year in the eastern Mediterranean offer both Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike a powerful incentive to reach an agreement. Cyprus can play a pivotal role in regional energy security. But the dynamics have again changed, which is why I rise today to express my grave concern over the Republic of Turkey's incursion into Cyprus's exclusive economic zone. On October 20, Turkey sent a Russian vessel--the Barbaros--into Cyprus's exclusive economic zone to stop the Government of Cyprus from exercising its lawful and sovereign right to explore the natural gas within the exclusive economic zone.…”