In 1974 Turkish troops. equipped with weaponry supplied by the United States. invaded Cyprus and succeeded in overrunning and occupying over 40 percent of Cypriot soil. Over 200.000 Greek Cypriots were forced to flee their homes. many of them with only the clothes on their backs. to escape the terror and violence of the Turkish onslaught. Today. these refugees live as strangers in their own land with no home and. for many of them. no hope of returning to regain what is rightfully theirs. We must not stand idly by while the Greek Cypriots languish in despair and desolation. Negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots aimed at producing a Just and equitable solution to this tragedy have produced no meaningful progress toward the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops. Withdrawal is the only viable and acceptable solution to restoring true peace and concord to Cyprus. There can be no permanent solution to the Cyprus issue unless the 200.000 Greek Cypriot refugees are permitted to return to their homes and assume. once again. their birthright. Turkish violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus has seriously strained the already tenuous relations between Greece and Turkey and weakened the southern flank of the NATO Alliance to which both nations belong. In addition. we find ourselves in the unacceptable situation in which arms and equipment supplied by the taxpayers of the United States for the use of the NATO Alliance are. instead. being used by Turkey to maintain control over conquered Cypriot territory. I am. today. calling upon our Government to reimpose and fully implement the embargo of all arms. foreign aid. grants. and assistance of any kind against Turkey if all 200.000 Greek Cypriot refugees are not allowed to return to their homes and properties. In adittion. all 40.000 Turkish nationals brought from Turkey to Cyprus to colonize the conquered territories there should be returned to Turkey along with all Turkish Armed Forces. I am calling upon President Reagan to act quickly and expeditiously in this matter so that this matter can be rectified.
Keywords matched
refugees