[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
CYPRUS REMAINS SEPARATED
______
HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 24, 1994
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, July marks the 20th anniversary of the
invasion of Cyprus. The situation there is a throwback to the cold war.
Artificially divided and militarily tense, Cyprus deserves a better
fate. The cold war is over--the long-divided Germans have reunited, and
even Yemen has recently come together. Yet Cyprus remains separated.
The United States must vigorously support all efforts to bring an end
to this tragedy. We own as much, both to the Cypriot people, and in
respect to the beliefs that no country be given license to occupy
another, that artificial ethnic separation is not an answer, and that
peace and democracy be allowed to flourish in a reunited Cyprus.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that we insert two articles into the Record which
eloquently describe the sad situation that has existed in Cyprus for
nearly 20 years.
[From the Houston Post, Mar. 12, 1994]
Will the Wall Tumble Down?
(By Ken Hoffman)
Nicosia, Cyprus.--When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989,
Nicosia was left standing as the world's only divided capital
city.
Divided by force, religion, politics, mistrust and hatred.
In July 1974, the small Mediterranean country, culturally
and politically aligned with Greece but lying only 40 miles
south of Turkey, was invaded by Turkish fighter boats and
40,000 heavily armed commandos. Turkey had long coveted
Cyprus, with its strategic location at the crossroads of
Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
On the morning of July 20, under the pretense of protecting
Turkish Cypriot minorities in Cyprus and with Cyprus in its
usual turmoil, Turkey seized its opportunity.
Opposed by only 16,000 Cypriot national guardsman, Turkey's
military objective was accomplished in less than one month.
Thousands were dead. About 180,000 Greek Cypriots were sent
running for their lives to the south.
In their place, Turkey invited 55,000 Turkish Cypriots
living in the south to move north. Eighty thousand settlers
from mainland Turkey were brought to Cyprus to solidify
Turkey's racial hold on the territory. The occupiers gave new
Turkish names to Cypriot cities. Kyrenia became Girne.
Famagusta became Magosa.
More demoralizing personally to the refugee Cypriots,
Turkish invaders moved into their homes and took over their
businesses.
barbed wire, rifles
Now the country has a 112-mile impenetrable border of
barbed wire and pointed rifles stretching from coast to
coast.
From its western beaches to its eastern ports, the ``Attila
Line'' and a narrow buffer zone patrolled by 2,100 United
Nations soldiers keep Greek and Turkish Cypriots apart.
Cypriots are not allowed, under any circumstance, to cross
the border. There is no telephone or mail service between
north and south.
The northern 37 percent of the island has been renamed the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an outlaw government
supported solely by Turkey.
Since 1974, several United Nations resolutions have
condemned the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and ordered the
occupiers to leave. Turkey has ignored each demand.
The Turkish invasion was devastating to Cyprus in economic
as well as in emotional terms.
Turkey's capture of North Cyprus was well-aimed. The
occupied territory contains Cyprus' two prettiest resort
cities, Kyrenia and Famagusta. They took over the country's
lone international airport and only deep water port.
With the conquest of the north, 70 percent of the country's
hotels were lost. Tourism was wiped out.
border crossing
Tourists are permitted to walk through the Attila Line's
only gate near the old Ledra Palace Hotel in downtown
Nicosia.
The Ledra Palace was once Cyprus' most elegant hotel. Now
it's barracks. Its elegant dining room is now a military mess
hall.
To cross the border, you first show your passport to Greek
Cypriot military officials. They will let you by, but only
after asking politely that you not go. They point to a hand-
painted sign that reads:
Attention!
Beyond this checkpoint is an area of Cyprus still occupied
by Turkish troops since the invasion in 1974. The invaders
expelled 180,000 Cypriots of Greek origin from their
ancestral home and brought over colonists from mainland
Turkey to replace them.
Enjoy yourself in this land of racial purity and true
apartheid.
Enjoy the sight of our desecrated churches.
Enjoy what remains of our looted heritage and homes.
Below the sign is a painting of Cyprus with a bloody dagger
stuck through the heart of Nicosia.
____
[From the Houston Post]
Cyprus Invasion Not Forgotten
(By Ken Hoffman)
Nicosia, Cyprus.--Every night on television in Cyprus, they
flash the message ``DEN XECHNOUME.'' We have not forgotten.
Not forgotten Turkey's bloody invasion of North Cyprus in
1974 that killed 6,000 people and created 100,000 Greek
Cypriot refugees in their own country.
Not forgotten that Turkey continues to occupy the country's
most beautiful cities, the international airport and valuable
port of Farnagusta.
Not forgotten that almost 20 years later, Cyprus is a
divided island, with an outlaw government calling itself the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ruling 37 percent of the
land.
Most of all, they have not forgotten that Turkish soldiers
and settlers stole their business and moved into their homes.
Evi Fiouri certainly has not forgotten.
In 1974, Evi was 13 years old, in her first year of high
school. She lived in a small gray home in the north beach
resort of Kyrenia with her parents and baby sister.
Evi remembers the morning in 1974 when she heard the bombs.
``We jumped out of bed and went on the roof. We could see the
Turkish boats. My father said we had to flee. Someone told us
that Turkish soldiers had already landed in a western village
and were committing atrocities,'' she said.
``They were raping girls and killing the old people. We had
to go immediately.''
Her father tried to calm his daughters. He said they would
probably return in a few days.
``We were leaving just for security, until the problems
with Turkey was worked out * * *. For awhile before, Turkish
Cypriots had warned us that there would be an invasion * * *.
But we thought it was impossible. It was too absurd.''
running for their lives
And then they heard the bombs.
Evi grabbed a small handbag, stuck her favorite doll in it
and hopped into the family car.
They drove south, but still heard the bombs. So they
continued on the southern highway. They listened to the
radio. Rumors were flying. The Turks were running rampant.
Helicopters filled the sky. Greek Cypriots who attempted to
defend their homes were killed.
``We realized that Kyrenia was occupied, so my father drove
us to Larnaca, farther in the south,'' Evi said. ``People
were kind to us. The Red Cross gave us clothes and food. That
was when I first heard the word `refugees,' and I knew that
it meant us. My little sister started crying. She didn't want
to be called a refugee.''
losing everything
In Kyrenia, Evi's father had owned a lemon grove. The
family was considered well off. Now all they owned was a car,
a few suitcases and a young girl's doll.
Evi's father did work again. Although he is retired, his
hobby of raising bees is profitable.
Evi lives in the capital city of Nicosia and works for the
government. Her husband is customs officer. A few years ago,
she heard that a Turkish Cypriot police officer was living in
her old home.
A United Nations soldier, who had visited Kyrenia, brought
back a picture. It was painful for Evi to look, she said. The
backyard garden her pride, was in ruins.
``Other homes near mine were torn down and made into potato
farms.''
Cypriots are forbidden to cross the border into the Turkish
occupied territory. But even if she could go. Evi could not
bear to visit her old house.
``It would be too tragic. That was the happiest time in my
life. How would I feel to be a stranger there? To have to ask
to come into the home that I rightfully own? I want my old
home back,'' she said.
``I want my country back, too.''
____________________