A recent official visit to Australia by a Cyprus delegation was concluded with success, but it seems that the trip remains talk of the day in Cyprus.
Following an invitation by the Australian Parliament, the President of the Cypriot Parliament Dimitris Syllouris met with community representatives and Australian politicians in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
READ: President of the Cypriot Parliament, Dimitris Syllouris set to visit Australia in February
But the fact that the Solidarity Movement MP was accompanied by an inter-party delegation and senior officials making up for a group of 18, was not viewed favourably by the Cypriot press.
The reason? Cypriot taxpayers have reportedly footed the bill.
According to print and online media outlets, including in the widely-circulated Phileleftheros newspaper, the Australian Federal Parliament backed down from the initial intention to cover the full cost of the trip, due to the big number of officials comprising the delegation.
The reported total cost of air fares, accommodation and other expenses amounts to €150,000 (equating to a bit more than AUS $ 240,000).
During his stay in Melbourne, Mr. Syllouris made an appearance at the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria where he addressed those gathered with an update on the latest developments in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
On Monday 10 February, he had a private meeting with the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne Mr Bill Papastergiadis. The meeting was also attended by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Ms Martha Mavrommatis.
Mr Papastergiadis highlighted some of the topics discussed, saying that Mr Syllouris was informed about the creation of a new Chair at the University of Melbourne on Greek Language and Multiculturalism and briefed on an upcoming investment conference to be held in Greece.