Bob Menendez: “I am here to offer a resolution which calls on Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its troops from Cyprus and…”

“I am here to offer a resolution which calls on Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its troops from Cyprus and end its military occupation. Turkish troops have now been in Cyprus for over 33 years. The number of these troops has increased over the last three decades so that there are now more than 43,000, making this area one of the most militarized in the world. Let me be clear. There is no legitimate justification for the 43,000 Turkish troops to be in Cyprus. Cyprus is a peaceful country. Millions of people have been crossing the buffer zone without incident for years. There are no military attacks and there is no need for military protection of Turkish Cypriots. In the end, these troops only serve to create military tension. Again, there is absolutely no legitimate justification for this military occupation. In fact, Cyprus has historically been an oasis of generally peaceful relations. When Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots emigrate to Great Britain from Cyprus, they often seek to live next to each other as neighbors. This resolution highlights these examples and uses them as evidence to urge Turkey to immediately begin the withdrawal of its military occupation.”