Mr. Speaker. today we are once again pausing to mark another year of Turkish occupation of Cyprus. Sixteen years ago. the Turks invaded the Northern portion of Cyprus and have since occupied 37 percent of the island. One third of the population or 182.150 Greek Cypriots. were driven from their homes during the invasion of 1974. Overnight. the Greek Cypriots became refugees In their own land. Today there are 35.000 Turkish soldiers and more than 65.000 illegal colonists in Cyprus. Recently. President Vassiliou of Greece has applied for membership in the European Community [EC]. He has stated his desire to share economic prosperity with the Turkish Cypriot people.
Keywords matched
refugees