Washington, DC –U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after meeting His Excellency Ioannis Kasoulides, Foreign Affairs Minister for the Republic of Cyprus.
"This July marks the 40th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and today Foreign Minister Kasoulides briefed me on his government’s ongoing efforts to end the occupation and reunify the island. These negotiations deserve the attention and support of the United States and the European Union, including funding for confidence building measures to promote peace in Cyprus. Vice President Biden's visit to Cyprus next week is an expression of the U.S. government's commitment to this issue.
"This week, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment that the Turkish government should pay $124 million in compensation to Cyprus for human rights abuses committed during the 1974 invasion. Cyprus deserves to enjoy full political freedom and economic prosperity, and that requires having Turkey acknowledge the past to ensure a more hopeful future for all.”
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