Speaking to Greek lobbying group, congressmen denounce presence of Turkishtroops on Cyprus

House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen yesterday called for Turkish troops to be withdrawn from Cyprus. Speaking to the American Hellenic Institute, an influential Greek lobbying group, Ros-Lehtinen said when Turkish troops landed on the island in 1974 to protect its Turkish residents from a Greek coup and ethnic violence, it was a "dark day," calling the situation on the island "unacceptable." Ros-Lehtinen also called for Ankara to give full support to Cypriot peace negotiations, saying, "Cypriot leaders should be able to negotiate conditions for reunification of the island without backdoor pressure from Ankara." Also speaking at the meeting on the so-called "illegal occupation" of Cyprus, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (Florida), Carolyn Maloney (New York) and Frank Pallone (New Jersey) also argued that Turkish troops should be withdrawn from the island.