This month marks the 39th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. PASEKA (Pan Australian Coordinative Committee for the Cyprus Struggle), a nationwide federation of Cypriot Organizations and its local arms are once again organising a number of events this year in various state capitals of Australia, in order to draw attention to the as yet unresolved Cyprus Issue.
The commemorative events start in Melbourne this coming Thursday at 1.00 pm with a peaceful protest outside the Turkish Consulate, where the protestors will be demanding the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from Cyprus and an end to the occupation.
On Friday at 5.00 pm there will be a candlelight vigil and a human chain on the steps of the State Parliament in Victoria, followed by a ‘deipno litotitas’ that is a frugal supper, at the premises of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria, in Lygon St, Brunswick East. Present at this event, representing the Cypriot Government, will be Dr Petros Petridis, Minister of Health. Dr Petridis will also be taking part in commemorative events in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.
Dr Petridis was born in Nicosia in 1948. He is a graduate of the Athens University Medical School with specialisation in vascular surgery. He assumed the office of Minister of Health on 1 March 2013.