WASHINGTON, DC – The Congressional Hellenic Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), is calling on members of the U.S. House to join them in marking the 27th “Black Anniversary” of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a letter circulated today on Capitol Hill, the two co-chairs asked their colleagues to take part in a series of 5-minute “Special Order” statements on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 25th. In this letter, they note that the nation of Cyprus has remained illegally divided since Turkey’s invasion on July 20, 1974. The Turkish controlled section of the island nation is still occupied by 35,000 Turkish troops. According to recent estimates, the Turkish government spends over $300,000,000 annually to finance its military occupation on Cyprus.

“We join with our friends in the Congressional Hellenic Caucus in encouraging members of Congress to rededicate themselves to the cause of ending Turkey’s 27-year military occupation of Cyprus,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We look forward as well to renewed efforts with the Hellenic American community to press Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian and Pontian genocides, to end its violations of international law in the Aegean Sea, and to fully respect the rights and religious practices of its Christian communities.”

In a recently released statement in support of the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, the ANCA had noted that: “Twenty-seven years after Turkey’s brutal invasion divided Cyprus, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the Department of State, while producing a seemingly endless series of high-level talks, official reports, and special envoys, has never once used its considerable influence to press Ankara to withdraw its forces from the island.”

The Special Order speeches on Cyprus will be broadcast nationally on C-SPAN television at the close of legislative business on Wednesday, July 25th.

For additional information on the Hellenic Caucus, visit:
http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/hellenic/index.html

ANCA Support Accession of Cyprus to the European Union:

In a related matter, the ANCA is actively supporting efforts, such as H.Con.Res.164, that encourage the Administration to back the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. The ANCA has communicated its views on this issue in statements circulated to the White House, State Department, Congress, the Greek and Cypriot governments, and Greek American organizations. The full text is provided below:

The Armenian American community welcomes H.Con.Res.164 and other initiatives in support of the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

Turkey’s 1974 invasion and its ongoing refusal to respect the rule of law should not be allowed to block the full and timely entry of Cyprus into this important European institution.

We are especially encouraged that a bipartisan group of legislators has taken the initiative to help advance United States policy on Cyprus. The State Department’s diplomacy, sadly, seems better designed to prolong a stalemate than to reach an equitable settlement. Twenty-seven years after Turkey’s brutal invasion divided Cyprus, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the Department of State, while producing a seemingly endless series of high-level talks, official reports, and special envoys, has never used its considerable influence with Ankara to make a true, concerted effort to press Turkey to withdraw its forces from the island.

The need for decisive action on Cyprus is all the more apparent when considering that, at the same time the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are bailing out Turkey -essentially subsidizing its failed economic policies with our tax dollars — the Turkish military is spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year on its occupation of Cyprus.