07/20/10 - Remarks submitted for the Congressional Record - Madam Speaker, on July 20, 1974, a heavily armed Turkish invasion force landed on the beaches of its sovereign, independent neighbor?Cyprus.

While ostensibly on a peaceful mission to restore order, the Turkish military carried out a brutal campaign against Greek Cypriots, called ?Operation Atilla?.

Over five thousand Greek Cypriots were estimated to have been killed; an additional sixteen hundred Greek Cypriots were reported missing; and over two hundred thousand Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes, never to return.

Demetris Drakos, who was a child during the invasion, recently recalled his impressions to the BBC: ?Fear and confusion as the Turks invaded, running out under the cover of night with nothing but the clothes on our backs, leaving behind our ancestral homes, our lives and in some cases our loved ones.?

Subsequently, as part of an ?ethnic cleansing?-style campaign, as some have deemed it, the occupying Turkish forces converted churches to mosques and brought Turkish squatters to settle in homes from which Greek Cypriots had been forced to flee.

The violent military occupation that began in July 1974 and the subsequent illegal actions by Turkey on Cyprus have been repeatedly criticized by the international community.

The United Nations Security Council has passed seventy-five separate resolutions calling for Turkey to allow Greek Cypriots to return to their homes and to withdraw its troops from Cyprus.

In 1976, 1983 and again in 2009, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey was illegally occupying Cyprus and must return all seized properties to their Greek Cypriot owners.

Turkey continues to ignore such condemnations of its actions.

While both the United States and the United Kingdom have unequivocally stated their support for a Cypriot-authored solution for the reunification of the country with a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation enjoying a single sovereignty and citizenship, to date no similar commitments or comments have been issued by the Turkish government.

Turkey has a moral obligation to grant the Turkish Cypriot community full autonomy in the reunification negotiations and to clearly commit to abiding by any terms agreed upon in a Cypriot reunification agreement.

Above all, Turkey must withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus.

Those actions would go farther toward achieving peace and stability in Cyprus than all the rhetoric of good intentions we have heard over and again from Ankara.

On this 36th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Cypriot efforts to establish a lasting, peaceful solution to the conflict that has ravaged their country and divided their people for far too long.

03/27/10 - Rep. Ros-Lehtinen organizes a fundraiser at a Turkish center in Ft Lauderdale. http://www.turkishforum.com.tr/en/content/2010/03/23/florida-please-join-turkish-american-community/.

03/04/10 - Remarks offered during House Committee on Foreign Affairs markup of H. Res. 252 - Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. The death of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of officials of the Ottoman Empire almost a century ago was a dark and horrific chapter in human rights, one which has had an enduring impact on the psyche of subsequent generations of Armenians. It continues to significantly influence the relations between the current nation states of Armenian and Turkey and thereby impacts attempts at reconciliation between the two countries.

This is also an extremely sensitive time for U.S. efforts in both Europe and the Middle East, and we need to ensure that our decisions and our actions concerning the resolution before us do not have unintended consequences that could place at risk critical U.S. security interests, our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and our troops serving in harm?s way.

Without question, this is an extremely serious matter that requires careful consideration. Unfortunately, we are at a disadvantage today. The current administration, in contrast to the Bush and Clinton administrations, has chosen not to engage in any way prior to today?s markup and has not yet decided if it will at all at some later point. Despite various congressional requests, it has not submitted any views or provided any recent documentation that could assist us in our committee in arriving at the decision before us on House Resolution 252.

As such, some of us have reviewed information provided by the Department of Defense in 2007 and the intelligence community in 2009 in an effort to gain a more complete understanding of the different foreign policy priorities and important security interests at stake. Our colleague, Mr. McCaul, has reviewed those documents. He has constituents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and wanted to ensure that he fully understood the potential ramifications for their safety and the safety of all of our personnel engaging the enemy in these countries.

The information contained in these documents had a profound impact on the way that he views today?s markup of House Resolution 252 and what it could mean for our military operations. More broadly, as a number of our colleagues, including Chairman Ike Skelton of the Armed Forces Committee, cautioned in a letter to Chairman Berman and me earlier this week, and I quote: ??This legislation will have very real and meaningful consequences internationally. While we can and should debate the best ways to defeat extremism and help strengthen our struggling economy, we certainly should not be considering proposals that will only further damage our country both militarily and economically.??

Lastly, I would suggest that it does not help nor advance our nation?s interest for the members of this committee to engage in a tit-for-tat to disparage either the Armenian or the Turkish Government.

To ensure that members have ample opportunity to express their support and raise concerns about this measure, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back my time. Thank you.

Additional comments ---

Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I just want to rectify my opening statement. I had said that the administration in a rather forceful way had not taken any decision on this resolution, and I have just been handed an AP wire. I will just read the first sentence: ??The administration is urging a U.S. congressional committee to hold off on a resolution declaring the Ottoman era killing of Armenians as genocide, a White House spokesman said Thursday,?? so I stand corrected. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2/12/2009 - Robert Mangas of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Gamino regarding Mercan delegation visit..

2/26/2009 - Robert Mangas of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Gamino regarding Ekren delegation visit..

3/10/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo regarding a request for a meeting between Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Unal Cevikoz..

3/10/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP phoned Christine Delportillo regarding a request for a meeting between Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Unal Cevikoz..

5/22/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinan regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

5/29/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinan regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

6/1/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinan regarding an invitation to lunch with the Turkish Ambassador..

9/11/2009 - Allison Shullman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinan (LA) regarding invite to Congressional study group on Turkey's luncheon on Sep. 16th.

9/11/2009 - Allison Shullman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding invite to Congressional study group on Turkey's luncheon on Sep. 16th.

10/11/2009 - Janice O'Connell of the Gephardt Group Government Affairs, LLC emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) regarding signing of Armenia Turkey normalization protocols.

11/6/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/6/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/18/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/18/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/20/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/20/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/24/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/24/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/25/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/25/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/30/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

11/30/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

12/4/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

12/4/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

12/7/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

12/7/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP phoned Christine Delportillo (LA) regarding breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

12/8/2009 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopinian (LA) regarding photo from breakfast with the Turkish Prime Minister.

1/7/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC met with Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) regarding US Turkish relations.

1/14/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopanian Photo.

2/5/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (Foreign Relations Committee) US-Turkish relations.

2/5/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Arthur Estopanian US-Turkish relations.

2/17/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) regarding US-Turkish relations.

2/23/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting With Turkish Ambassador.

2/23/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo meeting With Turkish Ambassador.

2/24/2010 - Dennis Hastert of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP phoned Ileana Ros Lehtinen US-Turkish relations.

3/1/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (Foreign Relations Committee) Turkish Delegation Meeting.

3/1/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo Turkish Delegation Meeting.

3/1/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Mark Gage Turkish Delegation Meeting.

3/1/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) Turkish Delegation Meeting.

3/4/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) US-Turkish relations.

3/4/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) US-Turkish relations.

3/4/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Mark Cage (Deputy Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

3/5/2010 - Lydia Borland of the Caspian Group LLC teleconferenced Mark Gage (Deputy Chief of Staff) regarding US-Turkish relations.

3/11/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Requests.

3/11/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting Requests.

3/16/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Request.

3/17/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP spoke with Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Request.

3/26/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Request.

4/27/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) Turkey Caucus letter.

5/6/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) Breakfast Meeting.

5/6/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) Breakfast Meeting.

5/7/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) Breakfast Meeting.

5/7/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) Breakfast Meeting.

5/12/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) Breakfast Meeting.

5/12/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) U.S. Turkish relations.

5/12/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo Breakfast Meeting.

5/14/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) US-Turkish relations.

5/14/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) US-Turkish relations.

5/14/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo US-Turkish relations.

5/24/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) Breakfast Meeting.

5/26/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Request.

5/26/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting Request.

5/26/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo meeting Request.

6/10/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Sarah Blocher (House Foreign Affairs Committee) meeting Request.

6/10/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting Request.

6/10/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo meeting Request.

6/11/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo meeting Request.

6/11/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting Request.

6/21/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Mark Gage meeting Request.

6/21/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Yleem Poblete (Republican Staff Director) meeting Request.

6/21/2010 - Allison Shulman of the Dickstein Shapiro, LLP emailed Christine Delportillo meeting Request.