Remembering the struggle: Melbourne’s Cypriot community marks 65 Years of Cyprus’s Independence

2 hours ago 8

October 1 marks the 65th day of Cyprus’s independency from British assemblage rule. Today, Melbourne’s Cypriot assemblage gathered astatine the Church of Our Lord successful Coburg to honour those who fell successful the struggle.

The Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών), oregon National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters — EOKA — launched a guerrilla run against British regularisation successful 1955. It was a bloody matter that besides seeded the post-1974 modern part of the land betwixt Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus declared independency and became a republic successful 1960, led by Archbishop Makarios III arsenic president.

Makarios was deposed connected 15 July 1974 during the coup orchestrated by the Greek subject junta and led by the nationalist radical EOKA B. Citing concerns for the information of the island’s Turkish minority, Turkey launched a full-scale penetration and has occupied the bluish portion of the land since. Cyprus has been divided since.

Honouring the past and looking to the future

The liturgy was conducted by Father Leonidas, and the keynote code was delivered by the Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikolaos Varellas, representing High Commissioner Antonis Sammoutis.” Cyprus proudly celebrates this year the 65th day of the constitution of the Republic,” said Varellas. He reminded attendees that though the independency statement was signed connected 16 August 1960 by President Archbishop Makarios III and Vice President Dr Fazıl Küçük, it was decided that Independence Day would beryllium celebrated annually connected 1 October.

Varellas reflected connected the island’s turbulent modern past — from the EOKA struggle, the Zurich–London Agreements, to the intercommunal unrest of 1963–64, the coup of 15 July 1974, and the subsequent Turkish invasion. He paid tribute to the fallen, the wounded, and the missing, noting that 37 per cent of Cyprus remains under Turkish concern and that much than 250,000 radical stay displaced successful their ain homeland.

He besides highlighted the achievements of the Republic of Cyprus arsenic a respected subordinate of the United Nations, Council of Europe, Commonwealth, and the European Union, announcing that from 1 January to 30 June adjacent year, Cyprus will clasp the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the 2nd time.

“The government’s priority,” helium said, “is a viable and functional λύση for the payment of each Cypriots — 1 that ensures reunification without discrimination, successful accordance with planetary instrumentality and European values.”

The work ended, and extracurricular volunteers from Our Daily Bread sold sweets, nutrient and coffee. One of the volunteers said the foundation provides hospitality and meals to the stateless and those doing it tough.

Community enactment and remembrance

Among those attending the work were salient leaders of Melbourne’s Cypriot and wider Hellenic community, including Theo Theophanous, President of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne, Antonis Kyriakou, President of SEKA (Coordinating Committee for the Cyprus Struggle), Sotiris Stylianou, Vice President of the Greek Cypriot Community of Apostle Andreas, Andreas Christodoulou, President of the Hellenic Cypriot Parents & Youth Association, Antonis Tsourdalakis, President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, and Steve Kyritsis, Past President of the Hellenic RSL Melbourne. Many different representatives of assemblage organisations and brotherhoods were besides present.

After the service, Neos Kosmos spoke with Theo Theophanous, a erstwhile Victorian Labor curate and present President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne. He reflected connected the dense terms paid for Cyprus’ independence.

“Independence progressive sacrifice. The British were brutal successful their response, hanging 9 people, 1 conscionable sixteen years old. His lone ‘crime’ was tearing down a British flag.” Theo Theophanous President of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne

“Sixty-five years since Cyprus became an autarkic republic, we indispensable retrieve the struggle that preceded it — an equipped insurrection against the British,” helium said.

“Independence progressive sacrifice. The British were brutal successful their response, hanging 9 people, 1 conscionable sixteen years old. His lone ‘crime’ was tearing down a British flag.”

Theophanous said astatine slightest 14 Cypriots were tortured and then murdered by UK forces. In 2019, the UK authorities paid adjacent to 2 cardinal Australian dollars to 33 Cypriots who were tortured by British forces. Among them was a girl, 16 years aged astatine the time, who said she was repeatedly raped by British soldiers.

Theophanous said that independency “wasn’t handed to Cypriots.”

“Our independence, similar that of the Greeks who fought the Ottomans, was won done humor and struggle.”

Reunification and the relation of the Diaspora

Asked astir the prospects for reunification, peculiarly amid Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s progressively defiant rhetoric, Theophanous said that the 19 October elections successful the occupied northbound will beryllium critical.

“The hostile to Ersin Tatar, person of the self-proclaimed but unrecognised ‘Northern Republic of Cyprus’, is committed to resuming talks connected a bi-communal federation,” helium said. He added that “virtually each country” and the United Nations proceed to support a national exemplary arsenic the champion way forward.

Calling Erdoğan “a sly governmental operator,” Theophanous argued that the Turkish leader’s rejection of a federated Cyprus is “part of a calculated crippled program — pushing for maximum vantage earlier conceding ground.”

Melbourne’s Greek and Turkish Cypriots

In multicultural Melbourne, Greek and Turkish communities person agelong enjoyed cordial relations. Asked whether efforts were being made to strengthen and/or rebuild ties betwixt the two diasporas, which person frayed successful the past fewer years. Theophanous said helium was disappointed that “some bridges and projects person breached down successful caller years.”

He attributed the blasted to the 2024 visit by Ersin Tatar, the caput of the Turkish-occupied north, who entered Australia connected a Turkish passport. He was received by members of the Turkish Cypriot assemblage and Turkey’s Consul General, Doğan Işık.

“Tatar came to Australia and whipped up the Turkish Cypriot assemblage with populist, anti-Greek rhetoric connected unification,” said Theophanous. ”

We person a batch of work to bash to bring that backmost together.”

He said helium has continued to prosecute with Turkish Cypriot absorption leaders successful Cyprus, noting that “the island’s aboriginal depends connected the upcoming election.”

“The question,” helium said, “is whether Erdoğan will interfere again. The existent absorption person has a amended narration with him than the erstwhile one, which whitethorn mean little meddling this time.”