Support sought for Justice to Cyprus

May 2022 In a letter sent to the Prime Minister of Australia and the Leader of the Opposition, in the lead up to the Federal election, the President of the Justice for Cyprus Committee (S.E.K.A.) Mrs Georgia Alexandrou highlights the continuing plight of the people of Cyprus and seeks support in the struggle for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupying forces and the reunification of the island nation under a federal system of Government as defined by the United Nations relevant resolutions. The letter reads as follows: “Dear Prime Minister I write to you as the president of the Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus coordinating committee. Thousands of Cypriots call Australia home and work hard to contribute to the prosperity of this beautiful country we live in. Please accept our members' gratitude for the position Australia holds on the Cyprus issue. As a Cypriot Australian, I strongly urge you to maintain your Government’s stance on Cyprus. For over sixty years, Australia, together with the UN and the rest of the World, has only recognised the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. The Australian Government recognises the Republic of Cyprus as “the only legitimate authority on the island of Cyprus”. This position is indeed in accordance with SC Resolutions 541 and 550. We condemn the destruction of the cultural heritage of Cyprus by Turkey that has been taking place in the northern part of Cyprus since the Turkish military invasion in 1974. Turkey and the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime bear the sole responsibility for the present condition of hundreds of archaeological and religious monuments in the occupied areas that have been desecrated, looted or demolished. A significant number of churches have been converted to mosques or stables and several archaeological places that were famous and recognized throughout the world have been destroyed or illegally excavated while a great number of antiquities have been smuggled and remain unfound to this day. The Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus Committee and the Federation of the Cypriot Communities of Australia and NZ condemn Turkey’s partial reopening of Varosha in occupied Cyprus on 20 July 2021, in violation of United Nations resolutions 550 and 789, international law and international treaties. We condemn President Erdogan’s announcement of a so- called “two-state solution”. This policy contravenes the treaty obligation of Turkey to guarantee the existence of the Republic of Cyprus. We request the support for the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus and Greece in line with the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty of which Australia is a signatory. Ankara not only threatens the Republic of Cyprus, but the security of the entire region. It is important for our organisation which consists of all the major Cypriot and Greek organisations in Australia to be reassured that the next Prime Minister of Australia will hold the same stance on the Cyprus Issue which is indeed considered by all as an important national issue. We take this opportunity to ask the Australian Government and the people of Australia, to continue their support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, to reject Turkish aggression in the region, and to support the pursuit of a settlement to the Cyprus issue for a reunified state, free from Turkish troops with a single sovereignty and international personality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions. Yours sincerely, Georgia Alexandrou President, PASEKA (Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus) Australia & New Zealand”

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia