Speaker. yesterday July 20 marked the 31st anniversary of an illegal and inexcusable act by Turkey. Thirtyone years ago yesterday Turkish military forces illegally invaded Cyprus. forcing nearly 200.000 Greek Cypriots from their homes. And these Greek Cypriots became refugees in their own country and have remained refugees for the past 3 decades. Mr. Speaker. the U.N. Security Council resolved in both 1974 and 1975 that the Turkish occupiers had to facilitate the safe return of all refugees to their homes. For 31 years. TurkishCypriot leader Rauf Denktash has defiantly refused to abide by these U.N. resolutions. Furthermore. in December of 1996 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that refugee Titina Loizidou be given access to her property in the occupied territory. And once again this court ruling was met with defiance from the Turkish occupiers. After waiting for 2 years for Turkey to comply.
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