The Cypriot and Greek communities of Victoria will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus in a ceremony at Federation Square.
The event is scheduled for Sunday July 21 at 2pm with a flag-raising ceremony and wreath laying, which will be followed by speeches from the Mayor of Melbourne, state and federal politicians and community and church leaders.
The proceedings will also feature a choir and well-known singers like Marios Charalambous, who will sing beloved songs such as “Ena to Helidoni” and “Tis dikaiosynis Ilie Noite”.
The commemoration marks 50 years since Cyprus was invaded, leading to the deaths of thousands (with more than 1,000 people still missing) and the forceful removal of roughly 175,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes.
The invasion is still evident today with the occupation, the division of the island and over 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus.
Theo Theophanous, President of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria, said Cypriots are proud of their Hellenic culture and continue to advocate for peace and a free, unified Cyprus.
Theophanous told Neos Kosmos that it is important “to get the maximum number of people to Federation Square in Melbourne to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion and Occupation of Cyprus”.
The former Victorian government minister and head of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne, Victoria said it was imperative; “We do this in Australia as part of a worldwide mobilisation to influence Governments in the diaspora”.
“Australia has strong relations with Turkey and can influence them in multiple ways. We have increasing trade relations, links through Gallipoli Commemorations and through tourism.
“We all know that Turkey – not Greek and Turkish Cypriots – is the barrier to a just resolution. We have an obligation as Hellenes in the Diaspora to make our voices heard.”
Theophanous said, “The Pseudo President Tatar talks about two states or effectively two countries on our little island and does not want to have talks on a Federation as proposed by the EU, UN and Australia. But he is a puppet.”
If Turkey decides to move things to a resolution he will be brushed aside. So pressure on Turkey is the name of the game. Greece and Cyprus and the diaspora of Hellenes are united in wanting to pressure Turkey and secure a free united cyprus. This is the only realistic way to a solution. But again we have to show our strength through action.
As far as the the Australian Government’s position, Theophanous said, it “supports the territorial integrity of Cyprus”. He went on to point to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which states:
“Australia supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and recognises the Republic as the only legitimate authority on the island. Australia does not recognise the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’.”
“Australia also supports a bizonal bi communal Federation for Cyprus in accordance with EU and UN resolutions:”, Theophanous added.
The CCMV President commended the Australian Government for 60 years of peacekeeping in Cyprus and its support for a unified Cyprus alongside the UN and EU, while also rejecting the notion of establishing two separate countries in Cyprus.
“We urge everyone who seeks justice for Cyprus and its people to come to Federation Square and show their support,” he said.
Pavlos Andronikos, President of SEKA Victoria (the Justice For Cyprus Co-ordinating Committee), stressed the importance of continuing to recognise the events of the invasion that took place 50 years ago.
“In this 50th year since our island was torn in two, it is imperative that we do not forget,” Andronikos said.
He also expressed their concern with the efforts of Turkey to have other governments around the world recognise the pseudostate, “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
“Turkey has unleashed a campaign to persuade governments around the world to recognise its illegal state built on stolen, ethnically-cleansed territory,” the SEKA Victoria President said.
“We must do our utmost to prevent any such recognition, and to push for Turkish withdrawal, and a satisfactory and just settlement of intercommunal differences. The results of a criminal invasion, partition by force, and ethnic cleansing must not be accepted.”
The Cyprus 50th Anniversary Action Group is calling on all members of the Cypriot and Hellenic communities, along with friends and supporters, to attend the commemoration.
