Mr. Speaker. today. we stand to commemorate that fateful day13 years agowhen Turkish troops illegally occupied northern Cyprus. The tragedy inflicted by that occupation is one of continuing strained relations between Greece and Turkey. increasing polarization in Cyprus. growing threats to peace and security in the Aegean. a paralyzed United States policy regarding Cyprus. and most of alla tragedy of people. 150.000 Greek Cypriots are refugees in their own country. denied the right to return to their ancestral lands. Cyprus also faces the importation of tens of thousands of Turkish settlers. an attempt to erase Hellenic and Christian influence in the north. vandalism of churches. plundering of historic and cultural sites. all in an effort to "Turkify" the occupied territory. In essence. one writer states. "Cyprus is being estranged from itself. the historic. environmental. communal. cultural structure is being spoiled." With this human and cultural tragedy in mind.
Keywords matched
refugees