The Cyprus Community of Canberra welcomed the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis, on Sunday with a spring lunch event at the Hellenic Club in Woden.
The event was attended by over 100 people including a number of officials such as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Cyprus High Commission, Stavros Nikolaou; the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papakostas; the Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP; the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Greece, Colonel Ioannis Fasianos; Reverend Father Athanasios; the President of the Cyprus Community of Canberra and President of the Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee (PASEKA), Georgia Alexandrou; the President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis; and the Vice President of the Hellenic Club, Jim Andriopoulos; among many others.
During the event, these official guests and all attendees were able to speak with the new High Commissioner whilst enjoying a lunch prepared by the Hellenic Club, as well as desserts by Yiayia’s Bakery.
A number of speeches were also given by Cypriot High Commissioner Sammoutis, Ambassador Papakostas, Mr Georganas, and Ms Alexandrou.
In his speech, the High Commissioner thanked everyone for their warm welcome and congratulated the Cypriot community in Australia for being “an example of successful integration in this country.”
Ambassador Papakostas spoke next and praised the Cyprus Community for hosting the successful spring lunch event, before Mr Georganas took to the floor.
Mr Georganas spoke openly in his speech about a parliamentary motion he has been working on with PASEKA regarding the Cyprus issue. The Adelaide MP said he tabled the motion to Australian Parliament on Monday, September 5.
Last to speak was Ms Alexandrou who referred to the long history of the small Cypriot Community of Canberra, and also congratulated Cypriot youth for their recent involvement in national and global NEPOMAK conferences for the diaspora.
The event concluded with a number of dance performances by the Apollo Group of the Canberra Hellenic Dancers.
