Cypriot communities around Australia have issued messages today to mark the 48th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
In a message posted on Facebook, the Cyprus Community of NSW called on “all Australians from all walks of life to join us and demand justice for Cyprus.”
“As a Cypriot Community in the diaspora, we pledge to do all in our power to keep the issue of Cyprus alive and in the forefront of the minds of the Australian people. It is unacceptable to do otherwise,” the statement reads.
PASEKA (Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus committee) Australia & New Zealand have also issued a message to mark the anniversary today.
In the message, signed by PASEKA President Georgia Alexandrou, the organisation called on the Australian government to “continue their support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, to reject Turkish aggression in the region, and to support the pursuit of a settlement to the Cyprus issue…”
“The Cypriots of Australia express the hope that the new situation shaping internationally would lead to the creation of a climate in which other Security Council resolutions, including those on Cyprus, would also be implemented so that justice and peace might be restored in Cyprus as well,” the message continued.
These messages come as Cypriot communities in South Australia and the Australian Capital City (ACT) have already held wreath laying ceremonies and commemoration events to mark the anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
In South Australia, the Cyprus Community of SA and Justice for Cyprus (SEKA SA) organised a memorial service at The Nativity of Christ Church in Port Adelaide and a wreath laying ceremony at the Cyprus Community club in Welland on Sunday, July 17.
In the ACT, a historic wreath laying ceremony took place at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) on Sunday, July 3.
A number of events were also held in Melbourne to commemorate the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. On Friday, July 15, a candlelight vigil was held at the steps of the Victorian Parliament House in protest against the invasion and illegal occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus by Turkish troops.
On Saturday, July 16, Radio Hellas 3XY 1422AM held a special Cypriot program hosted by Lambrini Lambrou Christopher. On Sunday, July 17, there was a memorial service by His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis at Saint Efstathios Church in South Melbourne, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial.
Later that same day, the Cypriot Deputy Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Demertiadis, officially opened the photographic exhibition ‘Cyprus through the eyes of a photographer’ at Coburg Library.
For Sunday, July 24 in New South Wales, SEKA (Justice for Cyprus Co-ordinating Committee) have also organised a memorial service at the Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, and an anti-occupation gathering at The Cyprus Club in Stanmore with speeches and a cultural program.
