Heart of Cyprus beats in Sydney as diaspora call for justice 50 years after invasion

“Free Cyprus” and “Turkey out of Cyprus” echoed across the streets of Sydney on Sunday, July 28 as members of the Cypriot and Greek communities marched for justice for Cyprus 50 years after Turkey invaded the island in 1974.

Hundreds of people took part in the ‘peace march’ to Sydney’s Lane Park, including Greek and Cypriot community and faith leaders, many Cypriot refugees, and families of people killed during or still missing since the Turkish invasion. It was the first time in years the march was allowed to be held.

Voula Andonopoulos and her brother Sotirios marched with tears in their eyes as they clutched the photo of their cousin who was just 20 years old when he was killed in Cyprus fighting off the Turkish troops.

“It’s important to be here today to remember my cousin and all the other heroes who were fighting for the freedom of Cyprus,” Voula told The Greek Herald.

Never-before seen photos on display

Organised by SEKA NSW (the Justice for Cyprus Co-ordinating Committee), the march was part of a larger program of commemorative events which began on Saturday, July 27 at The Cyprus Club in Stanmore.

A cocktail party started at 7pm and was emceed by co-President of SEKA NSW Dr Miranda Adamou. There was a musical tribute from Cypriot musicians Marios Charalambous and Giorgos Timotheou, and a number speeches from official guests.

Speeches were given by the Commissioner of the Citizen of the Republic of Cyprus, Panayiotis Palates; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis; Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis; the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Chrysa Prokopaki; the PASEKA President and co-President of SEKA NSW, Chris Koulinos; the President of the Cyprus Community of NSW (CCNSW), Michael Kyriacou; and the President of the Cyprus Hellene Club, Panikos Achilleos.

The Deputy High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus Stavros Nicolaou was also present in what was one of his last events before the end of his time in Australia before taking up his new post in Israel.

Following the official proceedings, attendees had a chance to take in an exhibition on display which featured a collection of powerful never-before-seen images from the archives of the Cyprus Press and Information Office, providing a visual narrative of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

The photos vividly documented the human rights violations committed by Turkey 50 years ago, including the desecration of Greek Cypriots’ graves, the destruction of the island’s cultural heritage, the displacement of countless refugees, and the ongoing tragedy of missing persons, some of whom were depicted in the photos.

The exhibition was organised by the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, in collaboration with the CCNSW and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus

Remembering the fallen and missing

On Sunday, July 28, commemorations continued with a memorial service for the fallen and prayer for the missing persons at St Sophia and Three Daughters Greek Orthodox Church in Surry Hills. The liturgy was officiated by Bishop Iakovos alongside parish priest Father Irenaeus. At the end, the Bishop read out a message by Archbishop Makarios of Australia marking the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Dignitaries, officials and members of local Greek and Cypriot community organisations later gathered at the Cenotaph in Martin Place for a wreath laying ceremony. The ceremony included a prayer reading, the playing of the Last Post and Rouse, the reading of the Ode, and a minute silence.

The ‘peace march’ that followed was not hindered by the cold weather and freezing winds. Led by Mr Palates, Mr Sammoutis, Bishop Iakovos, Father Irenaeus, Dr Adamou and the President of St Sophia and Three Daughters Greek Orthodox Church, Con Zannettides, a contingent of Cypriot and Greek people proudly walked through Sydney, chanting and waving signs documenting the faces of people still missing 50 years after the Turkish invasion. The President of the Cyprus Community of South Australia Professor Andreas Evdokiou was also among the crowd, having travelled interstate for the solemn occasion.

Everyone stopped at Lane Park for a small gathering before moving to the Cyprus Club in Stanmore for a cultural program and official speeches.

‘We will never forget’

In what was a fitting end to 50th anniversary commemorations in Sydney, more than 200 people turned up to the Cyprus Club on Sunday afternoon.

Emceed by Themis Kallos, the event included the singing of the national anthems of Greece and Australia, followed by a dancing performance from the Cyprus Community of NSW’s dance school, and interspersed with heartbreaking poem recitals. Speeches were also given by Mr Koulinos, Mr Palates, Mr Sammoutis, Ms Prokopaki, Mr Kyriakou, Dr Adamou, and the former President of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Amanda Ruth Fazio.

As co-Presidents of SEKA NSW and the event organisers, Mr Koulinos and Dr Adamou reflected in their speeches on the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus invasion, emphasising the importance of remembering the past to inform the present. They also stressed that if there is no solution to the Cyprus Problem over the next few years, the Cypriot community will continue advocating for justice and an end to the illegal occupation of the island.

Mr Palates spoke on behalf of the entire government of the Republic of Cyprus when he said that Cypriots will never forget the tragedy that hit their homeland 50 years ago. He also thanked the diaspora of Cyprus in Australia for keeping alive the memory of the national heroes who died during the invasion.

“Through these events you are serving as the best ambassadors in spreading the story of the drama that the Cypriot people have suffered for half a century,” Mr Palates said.

“The message is clear – the Greek Cypriot diaspora does not forget its homeland, our Cyprus… 50 years later, we do not forget our beloved lands trampled by Turkey. We do not forget or dismiss our rich history of over 3,000 years, which defines our national identity and calls us never to forget or fall short of those who fought and sacrificed for our homelands freedom.”

As a member of the NSW Labor party, Ms Fazio said 50 years “of illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing, and the destruction and looting of cultural and religious artefacts is far too long.”

She stressed that although the Cyprus Problem “has slipped in the memory of too many people” thanks to more recent conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, the Cypriot community and Cyprus more broadly has “good friends in the Labor Party.” Ms Fazio gave an example of how former NSW Senator Michael Forshaw moved a resolution last week to recognise the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The motion was passed unanimously.

“[The motion]… called for reunification and for the end of the illegal occupation of Cyprus. So please be assured that even though so many people in the world have forgotten what has happened in Cyprus, you do have good friends here in Australia, outside of the Cypriot community,” Ms Fazio said.

Following the remainder of the powerful and moving speeches, there was an exchange of gifts between Mr Palates and the Presidents of PASEKA, SEKA NSW and the Cyprus Community of NSW. Cypriot musicians Charalambous and Timotheou also rounded out the evening with a musical performance.

*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.