The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney has written to the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne, urging the Australian Government to ‘unequivocally condemn’ Turkey’s violation of international law in Cyprus.

In the letter, signed by the President of the Lyceum, Liana Vertzayias, and Secretary, Christina Mitsopoulos, the women’s organisation detailed the recent Turkish provocations on the island and expressed their concern.

“As a women’s organisation of seventy years standing, we are concerned that human rights in Cyprus have continued to be violated for so long with impunity,” the letter reads.

Full letter:

Honourable Senator Marise Payne MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Dear Senator Payne,

The Republic of Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in July 1974. Its military occupied 37% of the island’s territory and ethnically cleansed the majority of the population then living in the occupied territory. Turkey then settled the occupied territory with colonists. 

Turkey is now proceeding to the next stage in its policy of establishing a two state solution on the island. This is in blatant violation of numerous UN resolutions, international judicial judgements and universal condemnation by the EU, USA and a consistent bi-partisan policy by Australia. 

READ MORE: PASEKA calls on Australian Government to continue push for territorial integrity of Cyprus.

In contemptuous breach of SC resolution 550 (11/5/1984) and 789 (25/11/1992) Turkey has now reopened the enclosed section of Famagusta (which has not been inhabited since the 1974 invasion) which the UN resolved be returned to its Greek Cypriot inhabitants under UN supervision.

We call on the Australian Government to join the international community in unequivocally condemning Turkey’s violation of International Law.

As a women’s organisation of seventy years standing, we are concerned that human rights in Cyprus have continued to be violated for so long with impunity.

Liana Vertzayias                                                  Christina Mitsopoulos

Hellenic Lyceum President                                    Hellenic Lyceum Secretary

READ MORE: Australian Hellenic Council on the Cyprus issue: Turkey’s Erdogan is no friend of Australia.