Reps. Bilirakis, Maloney Call for Protection of Religious Sites and Artifacts in Cyprus
1 Οκτωβρίου 2010
U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), co-chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, introduced a resolution Thursday that calls for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom. “Passage of this resolution will show that Congress makes international religious freedom a priority,” said Bilirakis, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the International Religious Freedom Caucus.
“As the Republic of Cyprus prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a nation, the very future and existence of historic Greek Orthodox, Maronite, and Armenian communities in the north are in grave danger of extinction.” Since Turkey invaded the northern area of the Republic of Cyprus on July 20th 1974, numerous religious site …
