Carolyn Maloney: “I rise in strong support of H.R. 1631, a resolution calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts in…”

“I rise in strong support of H.R. 1631, a resolution calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus. This year we marked the 36th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and continuing illegal occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. Since the 1974 invasion, many priceless symbols of Cyprus' religious and cultural heritage have been destroyed, looted, or vandalized, and even stolen, or illegally shipped for sale abroad. Very disturbing is the way the churches have been razed, converted into barns, into barracks, into beer halls with total disrespect to their religious importance. To date, Turkey has repeatedly ignored all U.N. resolutions pertaining to Cyprus and has continued to occupy the island in complete violation of international law.”