Cyprus should be “defined by the blue of the encircling Mediterranean Sea rather than ‘green’ line”, which divides the two communities, according to Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
In a written message to Sydney’s Cypriot and Greek communities yesterday, for the commemorative events to mark the 39th anniversary of the Turkish invasion to Cyprus, Mr Rudd said “the dawn of 20 July 1974 saw the beginning of the last phase of conflict in the history of Cyprus”.
“The scars of that conflict are still alive in the memory of both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, including those who today call Australia home”, said Mr. Rudd, and concluded:
“Reconciliation in Cyprus calls for historic leadership and vision. I am confident that the Cypriot communities in Australia stand ready to support and nurture the resumption of the political process to find a balanced, just and durable solution to the question of Cyprus”.
The prime ministerial message was read by Immigration minister, Tony Burke, who drew on his recent visit to Cyprus.
“I was shocked through my time in Larnaca and particular in Nicosia, when the UN took me into what is described as buffer zone- what struck me was, it wasn’t just the shopping centre I visited which was frozen in time – justice was frozen in time as well. I left as a passionate believer in the need for this to be fixed,” Mr Burke said.
In his message, the leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott said that “we reflect on the continuing international efforts to reunite Cyprus with freedom and rights for all”.
Mr Abbott’s message was read by Senator Arthur Sinodinos who said that “it is bipartisan in Australia, in all sides of politics, that we want a united Cyprus, a democratic Cyprus, a free Cyprus, free of outside interference, because all of us know that – if it had not been for the invasion – Cypriots, whether of Greek origin or of Turkish origin were able to live together.