On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Hellenic Community of Melbourne (HCM), in collaboration with ΣΕΚΑ Victoria, the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria and the 50th Anniversary Action Group, are joining forces to support a free and united Cyprus.

To honour those who have lost their lives and those who are still missing, the Greek Centre will be illuminated in red and communities across Victoria will come together to commemorate this tragic anniversary. These commemorations symbolise solidarity with the families who have been driven from their homes and the Centre’s commitment to defend the history, culture and religion that has been an integral part of Cyprus for thousands of years.

This solemn anniversary is a tragic milestone, demonstrating the prolonged occupation of more than a third of the island. Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of Cyprus in July 1974 was a violation of international law, leading to widespread persecution and suffering.

ΣEKA Victoria President Pavlos Andronikos said “Remembering is of the utmost importance, for it makes acquiescence impossible. To want justice, you have to remember the injustice. The Greek building bathed in red light is a symbol of our remembering. We remember all those unjustly killed, the missing, the women violently raped, the refugees who lost not just homes but villages as old as time. Remembering is a call to action, to anger, to protest, to hope.”

The Hon. Theo Theophanous, a former Government Minister, and currently President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria, stated that, “The Cyprus Community of Melbourne has always been a focal point for maintaining Greek and Cypriot culture and language. But for the last 50 of its 92 years of existence it has also been a place of support for refugees, for those who lost loved ones in the Turkish invasion and a voice demanding reunification. After 50 years Cyprus is at a crossroads with a new separationist regime wanting to divide Cyprus permanently, effectively into two countries. This is designed to cause division amongst our communities in Australia that have always supported a unified Cyprus under a federal system. We call on the Australian Government to place pressure on Turkey to reverse this trend and come back to real negotiations for a free democratic, unified Cyprus.”

The President of the GCM, Bill Papastergiadis OAM, made a statement: “As we illuminate the Greek Centre in red, let it serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder of our unwavering commitment to the cause. Together, we can keep the memory of this tragic event alive and work towards a brighter future for Cyprus. We encourage all members of our community and beyond to participate in our commemorative activities and stand with our Cypriot brothers in solidarity.”

The community will gather on Sunday 21^st July 2024, at Federation Square at 2:00 pm. There will be a flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying. This followed by speeches from state and federal politicians, and community church leaders