US Representatives Nicole Malliotakis, Gus Bilirakis, Chris Pappas and Dina Titus this week introduced a bipartisan resolution in the US House of Representatives condemning Turkey’s ongoing occupation of one-third of the island republic of Cyprus, a political move tabled ahead of president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration this month.
The four US lawmakers, who are of Greek descent, signed a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the east Mediterranean island, while urging Donald Trump to make a solution for Cyprus as a top US foreign policy priority.
The resolution also takes an aim at the policies of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, stressing that the latter “bases his policy on an extreme form of religious nationalism and seeks to establish himself as a hegemonic power in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Caucasus”.
Additionally, the resolution calls on Turkey to stop illegal activities in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and align itself with the NATO alliance’s democratic principles and mission.
The lawmakers also state that any solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on the long-standing premises of a bizonal, bicommunal federation framework.
Other points in the resolution demand that Turkey fulfill compensation claims by US citizens for properties in the Turkish-occupied parts of Cyprus and cooperate in locating four American citizens missing since the July 1974 invasion.
Finally, the resolution touches on the issue of some 200,000 illegal settlers brought to the island by Turkey, calling for their withdrawal and supporting a repatriation of Greek Cypriot refugees to their properties.
The resolution reads:
