Commending the heroic efforts of the people fighting the floods in North Dakota.

Madam Speaker, this past weekend marked the 36th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces. During the war, approximately 5,000 Cypriots were killed and close to 200,000 Greek Cypriots were forcibly removed from their homes. This anniversary also marks another year in which Cyprus is divided between north and south and between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.

However, despite 36 years of division in Cyprus, I remain hopeful about reaching a just and lasting settlement. Following his election in February 2008, President Demetris Christofias followed through on his commitment to make the solution of the Cyprus problem his top priority. In September of that year, he embarked on full-fledged negotiations with Mehmet Talat, who was at the time the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. I am encouraged that these negotiations are continuing under the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

The ongoing talks aim at reaching a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem with the goal of achieving the unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The agreement should also lead to a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality for Cyprus.

The House of Representatives has voiced its strong support for comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. On October 9, 2007, the House passed House Resolution 405, which expressed its support for the immediate implementation of the U.N.-brokered July 8, 2006 agreement as the way forward to prepare for new comprehensive negotiations leading to the reunification of Cyprus within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. In addition, the resolution called upon the United States Government to fully support the immediate implementation this agreement in its entirety.

There are still many difficult issues that need to be resolved before a comprehensive agreement to the Cyprus problem can be achieved. Turkey, which continues to deploy 43,000 troops in Cyprus, is critical to reaching such an agreement. I urge Turkey to work constructively with the Cypriots in support of a negotiated settlement and the peaceful reunification of the island.

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate once again the anniversary of Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, beginning in 1974, lasting up to the present time. The division of Cyprus has wreaked havoc on the island nation and left its Turkish- occupied section in disarray. It is cruel that the Cypriot people should continue to be subjected to this conflict.

Three summers ago, we were all pleased to see the two sides reach a major breakthrough in the troubled history of this divided island. After years of conflict, both sides committed themselves to the re- unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality. By agreeing to these principles, they recognized the status quo is unacceptable and that continuing it only hurts Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

It is my hope--and I believe my colleagues share in my feeling--that the two sides will soon be able to begin full-fledged negotiations, leading to a final status agreement and the removal of all Turkish troops from the island. Last Congress, this House expressed its support for these efforts by unanimously passing H. Res. 405, of which I was a proud cosponsor.

Madam Speaker, we urge the two parties to move forward in their discussions and, at the same time, we urge the international community to step back and allow the Cypriots--and the Cypriots alone--to make the decisions affecting their future. No one can force an agreement on them.