SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:26): I rise today to speak about a luncheon that I attended yesterday afternoon that my office coordinated. It was for the reformation of the South Australian Parliamentary Friends of the Republic of Cyprus. I have long had an interest in justice in Cyprus and I am a member of SEKA in South Australia, which is the political action arm for justice in Cyprus in South Australia, chaired by Mr Peter Louca with deputy chair Paul Alexandridis, secretary Erricos Neophytou and assistant secretary Christina Charalambous. George Nicou, Eleni Charalambous, Ellada Harpas, Stella Charalambous and Christos Ioannou, who is also the President of the Cypriot Community of South Australia, were in attendance with the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, His Excellency Yannis Iacovou, along with the members for Port Adelaide and Waite, and the Hon. Terry Stephens.

We discussed the formation in the new parliament of the South Australian Parliamentary Friends of the Republic of Cyprus. I am very pleased that the Hon. Terry Stephens has agreed to be my co-convenor. This group intends to promote and facilitate a better understanding of the need for a just settlement of the Cyprus problem based on United Nations resolutions respecting sovereignty, independence and the territorial integrity of Cyprus, resulting in the reunification of the island for the benefit of all Cypriots; to establish links with the House of Representatives of Cyprus and further strengthen links between members of the Commonwealth; and to promote cultural and political exchange with the Republic of Cyprus and the South Australian parliament.

The group existed more than five years ago but the group will be reinvigorated in the new parliament and I encourage all members of the parliament to become involved in this process. There are many people in Australia who are of Cypriot descent. In fact, according to the last Census, there are more than 18,000 people. Many people in South Australia with Greek heritage or Greek Cypriot heritage are very passionate about this event and this issue.

The invasion of the island by the Turkish people on 20 July 1974 and 15 August 1974 is still a scar in many people's hearts in Australia and Adelaide who are of that background. Cyprus is in fact only twice the size of Kangaroo Island. More than 43,000 Turkish soldiers are stationed in the occupied area; 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees were prevented from returning to their homes and lands; and 162,000 colonists have been illegally transferred to the occupied area by Turkey to alter the demography of the island.

More than 1,000 people are still listed as missing from this conflict. The ancient culture of the occupied north has been eradicated, saying that the area is Turkish. Many Greek Cypriots have properties in the occupied areas and these are illegally sold to foreigners. According to the UN, 'the northern part of the island is one of the most highly militarised areas in the world'. We need to resolve this problem for the Cypriot Greek people and the Cypriots that I represent in this state.