# What This Resolution Does

This is a congressional resolution that officially criticizes Turkey for occupying Cyprus and asks President Biden to prioritize solving this decades-old conflict. Think of it as Congress going on record with a strong statement about a foreign policy issue rather than passing a law that changes anything directly.

The resolution focuses on a situation that's been frozen in place since 1974, when Turkey invaded Cyprus and has kept troops there ever since. According to this resolution, Turkey has about 35,000 soldiers still occupying the northern part of the island. The resolution claims Turkey has brought in over 200,000 settlers to change the area's population, damaged hundreds of Orthodox Christian churches, and refuses to return property to people who owned land there—including some American citizens. It also mentions that four Americans have been missing since the 1974 invasion and their remains haven't been found.

The resolution calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops, stop interfering in Cyprus's waters and resources, help Americans get compensation for lost property, and cooperate in finding the missing Americans. It also pushes President Biden to make solving the Cyprus problem a top priority in his foreign policy work. Notably, the resolution quotes a 1989 letter from then-Senator Biden saying the U.S. should pressure Turkey to leave Cyprus entirely.

For most Americans, this resolution won't have immediate practical effects—it's mainly a symbolic statement expressing Congress's position on an international dispute. However, it could matter to Greek-Americans, Cypriot-Americans, and American citizens who lost property in Cyprus during the 1974 invasion. It also signals to Turkey that Congress wants the Biden administration to take a harder line on this issue, which could influence diplomatic negotiations down the road.

Condemning Turkey for its illegal occupation of Cyprus and encouraging President Biden to make the resolution of the Cyprus problem a top foreign policy priority.

Malliotakis, Nicole

 <p>This resolution condemns Turkey's continued occupation of Cyprus and calls on Turkey to withdraw all of its troops from the island. It also calls on Turkey to adhere to NATO's democratic principles and mission.</p>