Joe Crowley: “Twenty-eight years ago this week, Turkey invaded Cyprus, violating international law and provoking an international…”

“Twenty-eight years ago this week, Turkey invaded Cyprus, violating international law and provoking an international outcry. Since June 1974, Turkey has occupied the northern third of this beautiful Mediterranean island--although no other country recognizes the occupation as legitimate. Cypriot President Glafcos Clarides and Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash have re-engaged in peace talks aimed at reconciling the two communities of Cyprus since January. A resolution is not yet in sight, however, despite the incentive of accession to the European Union for both Turkey and Cyprus. We must now hope that a compromise will be reached soon, to ensure that Cyprus achieves its potential as a prosperous, progressive nation. I was fortunate enough to visit Cyprus last summer. It was an eye-opening experience to be on the Green Line in Nicosia and then to walk a few blocks into the heart of a successful European Capital. This dramatic contrast--where conflict and normalcy can co-exist within a few city blocks--reinforces the need to find a solution to this dispute that removes hatred and division from the heart of Cyprus. Today, Cyprus faces many challenges. The island is split across the middle by a barbed wire fence over one hundred miles long. Thirty-five thousand Turkish troops illegally occupy a third of the island, in what some consider one of the world's most militarized zones.”