Speech #940059439

In political terms. it violated the integrity of an independent state. In economic terms. it shattered the islands flourishing economy. And In human terms. it brought personal tragedy to thousands of familiesand turned half the population into refugees. detainees. or beleaguered people caught behind ceasefire lines. In too many quarters--including our own Governmentthe human dimensions of the Cyprus crisis. and the plight of Cypriot civilians. has taken second place to the political and military issues at stakeand to the special interests of those who have much to lose or to gain by the outcome of the conflict. But the civilians of Cyprus--both Greeks and Turksalso have interests. And for hundreds of thousands. recent weeks have been a nightmare of death and tragedy and grief. Regrettably. during the many months since these words were written. the plight of the Cypriot people continues to take second place to political and military issues. And we are once again debating the provision of more military aid to Turkey. rather than aid to support the return of refugees to their homes. And we are asked to do this despite the recognized lack of progress in negotiations. and despite any sign of good will or flexibility from Turkey in responding to basic humanitarian issuessuch as opening the Nicosia Airport. allowing the freedom of movement of people. let alone the resettlement of refugees to their homes. Indeed. senior officials at the Department of State admit that nothing has changed on Cyprus. We are at the same position we were some 8 months ago. Despite the continuing absence of progress. we have repeatedly. over the past many months. been assured by Department of State spokesmen of optimistic signs for "moving the parties involved on Cyprus to early negotiations." Those were. for example. the words written in a letter to me by the Department on November 22. 1974. Several weeks later. on January 6. Secretary Kissinger echoed a similar optimism in a letter responding to an inquiry by four members of the Refugee Subcommittee. The Secretary stated: Fortunately. some progress has been made in recent weeks toward getting substantive negotiations underway. Yet. today. a date fast approaching the first anniversary of the Turkish invasion. we have yet to see any meaningful negotiations. nor any developments in the field to match the continuing optimism of administration spokesmen. If "progress" means the shuttling of our diplomats around the globe. the occasional meeting of Turkish and Greek and Cypriot diplomats. or even the regular contacts of the two Cypriot communities in Nicosiathen such "progress" is hollow. if it does not also bring some positive developments in the field: The return of some refugees to their homes in Famagusta. the reopening of the Nicosia airport. and a beginning of a return to economic normalcy. These are the true indicators of progressnot more talk that leads nowhere. And these indicators must continue to be our benchmarks in assessing whether military aid to Turkey should be resumed.