While there has been some resolution with regard to the Americans missing in Cyprus. who we now know were killed in the Turkish invasion. key issues remain unresolved on this 24th Anniversary: the fate of the 1600 missing Greek Cypriots. the status of Farmagusta. the situation of the enclaved. the desecration of Christian sites in occupied Cyprus and the list goes on. We can look to one victory tonight. however. as we mark this somber anniversary. In a historic decision last week. the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ordered the government of Turkey to pay $640.000 in damages to a Greek Cypriot refugee. having found that Turkey violated the Convention on Human Rights. This acknowledgment. if belated. provides hope to the more than 200.000 Greek Cypriot refugees who lost so much in the invasion. This year Turkey marked the 24th Anniversary of the occupation of Cyprus in quite a different fashion. with a militaristic display of force presided over by none other than Turkish Prime Minister Yilmaz. This celebration and the presense of Prime Minister Yilmaz should not only offend the world community. it should also signal to the U.S. an essential truth: Unless we bring our influence to bear on the real center of power in all thisthe Turkish General Staff in Ankarathere is little hope for a resolution on Cyprus.
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