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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-28 Daily Xml
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Ersin Tatar

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. C. Bonaros:

That this council—

1. Expresses its concern and dissatisfaction regarding the recent visit to Australia by Ersin Tatar, the leader of the self-proclaimed 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (‘TRNC’), which constitutes the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus;

2. Notes South Australia does not recognise the legitimacy of the TRNC;

3. Notes United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550 which call upon all states not to recognise the purported state of TRNC;

4. Recognises that as the first leader of this entity to visit Australia, the visit was not cause for celebration;

5. Recognises the distress felt by Australians of Cypriot and Greek heritage due to Ersin Tatar’s visit;

6. Acknowledges the historical suffering of many refugees who lost their homes, land, and possessions following the invasion of Northern Cyprus by Turkish forces in 1974;

7. Acknowledges the ongoing pain of those whose loved ones have been missing since the invasion;

8. Supports the communities affected by the historical events in Cyprus;

9. Notes the advice of the federal government to all members of parliament and state governments to refrain from engaging or meeting with Ersin Tatar during his visit to Australia or otherwise; and

10. Calls on the state government to clearly articulate its support for the federal government’s position of non-recognition of the TRNC.

(Continued from 19 June 2024.)

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (00:03): I rise today on behalf of the Liberal Party to support this motion moved by the Hon. Connie Bonaros and express our concerns about the recent visit to Australia by Ersin Tatar, the leader of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As clearly stated in the terms of the motion, Australia supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and does not recognise the legitimacy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which controls the northern part of Cyprus.

The United Nations Peacekeeping force in Cyprus was established in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities. However, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July 1974 resulted in the capture of approximately 36 per cent of the island in the northern part of Cyprus. The ceasefire line from August 1974 became the United Nations' buffer zone in Cyprus and is commonly referred to as the Green Line. Around 200,000 Greek Cypriots, over a third of the 1974 total population who were forcibly expelled from the northern part of Cyprus, are still deprived of the right to return to their homes and properties.

UNFICYP still controls the buffer zone between northern and southern Cyprus, and Australia's involvement for 53 years marks our longest UN peacekeeping mission. Many refugees who were forced to flee their homes and lost their loved ones, livelihoods and possessions following Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 came to find a new home in Australia. We are immensely fortunate to have the second largest Cypriot diaspora in Australia, with a vibrant Cypriot community here in South Australia.

We acknowledge that the historical violence and ongoing tensions in Cyprus continue to cause pain and distress for the Cypriot and Greek communities here in South Australia. This year is incredibly emotional for so many in the community as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus.

Every year over the last 50 years, the Cypriot community comes together to commemorate the devastating invasion with a number of events and these events are an expression of the solidarity and support to the people of Cyprus and to pay tribute and honour those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy and freedom during the events of 1974.

I would like to thank all involved who worked tirelessly to organise these commemorative events. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Professor Andreas Evdokiou, President of the Cyprus Community of South Australia, and Peter Ppiros, Chairman of the Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee SA, and their executive members for their ongoing commitment to co-hosting the annual church memorial service, wreath-laying ceremony, protest rally and other forums to mark this solemn occasion.

SEKA and the Cyprus Community of South Australia continue to advocate for a just and viable solution to reunite Cyprus, and we understand that Ersin Tatar's recent visit further added to the distress and pain still keenly felt by the community. I note that the federal government provided advice to all members of parliament and state governments to avoid engaging or meeting with Ersin Tatar during his visit to Australia. It was not an official visit and, from my understanding, no federal or South Australian politicians met with him. It is vital that we reassure our Cypriot and Greek communities that South Australia continues to support the longstanding position of non-recognition of the TRNC.

On behalf of the South Australian Liberal Party, I wish to acknowledge and thank all the community leaders and organisations who persistently advocate for peace in Cyprus and thank them for their valuable contributions in the quest for justice for Cyprus. I thank the honourable member for moving this motion and we support this motion.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (00:08): I also rise to speak in support of this motion. At the outset, I want to reiterate that this state government supports the federal government's position on this issue, a position that confirms Australia's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, recognising the republic as the only legitimate authority on the island.

Many Greek Cypriots and their descendants in Australia have personal or family connections to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which, as we all know, resulted in significant loss of life, displacements and the occupation of the northern parts of Cyprus. This remains a deeply painful chapter for so many, and Australians with Greek Cypriot heritage are deeply sensitive to the historical and ongoing conflict in their homeland.

In May 2024, Ersin Tatar's visit to Australia occurred on the 50th anniversary of the 1974 illegal invasion. It brought distress to Australians of Greek Cypriot heritage, bringing the unresolved tensions and ongoing conflicts to the forefront. As we know, Tatar's presidency is closely associated with advocating for the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-declared state only recognised by Turkiye.

In South Australia, we are a safe haven for the many Cypriots who were displaced after the invasion of Cyprus. As a nation, we have the second largest Cypriot diaspora in the world after the United Kingdom. The tragic truth is that our Greek Cypriot South Australians were forced from their homeland and came to us not by choice but by necessity.

Here in our parliament, Labor's very own member for Enfield, the Hon. Andrea Michaels MP in the other place, has shared her story of having to flee her homeland with her family. Her story, like those of others, is real and shares memories, connections and the undeniable roots of a place that was once home. This is a homeland and culture she and her family are immensely proud of.

The Malinauskas Labor government supports Minister Michaels and the many other voices who are calling for the commonwealth government to help in the current peace process; for the United Nations to continue to acknowledge the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus through its many resolutions; and for Australia, as a member of the United Nations, to advocate for those resolutions to be respected by the Republic of Turkiye.

However, despite the many harrowing memories and stories, there have also been stories of success and positivity. The Greek Cypriot community has contributed so much to the multicultural fabric of South Australia and works hard to bring other communities together. Today they play a vital role in preserving and promoting Cypriot culture, traditions and language in South Australia. Greek Cypriots in South Australia organise and participate in many cultural events. Most South Australians will be familiar with the iconic Glendi Greek Festival. This event and many others have fostered empathy and understanding in South Australia by providing opportunities for the wider community to experience this culture's joyful music, dance and—most importantly—delicious food.

Over the decades, our Greek Cypriots have established strong community organisations that offer support both to new migrants and established families, helping with housing, employment and education. On that note, thank you to our South Australian Greek Cypriot community for sharing your stories and traditions with us. On behalf of the South Australian government, I thank the Hon. Connie Bonaros for presenting this motion, which we will be supporting.

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (00:13): Thank you to the Hon. Connie Bonaros for bringing this motion to the council. Over the winter break, I had the honour of attending one of the commemorative events organised by the Cyprus community and Justice for Cyprus South Australia. I heard directly about the suffering inflicted by the Turkish military occupation and division and how the dire consequences are felt by our Cypriot community 50 years on.

July 20 marked 50 years since the invasion and subsequent occupation of the Republic of Cyprus, in violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of the international law. Over 200,000 Greek Cypriots were displaced from their homes, becoming refugees in their own country, and whole communities were uprooted. Half a century later, over a third of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus is still occupied, and these people are deprived of the right to return to their homes and properties. I feel their pain and their longing to see Cyprus free and united again.

Watching what our innocent brothers and sisters are going through in Palestine, I can say that this world needs no more violence, suffering and loss. At the event I attended on 24 July, hosted by the Cyprus community, I heard about the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and how crucial it is for a lasting, peaceful and just solution to be found.

I applaud the federal government for advising all members of parliament not to engage in meetings with the leader of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, during his recent visit to Australia. This is consistent with Australia's official position that we support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus as the only legitimate authority of the land, that the TRNC is not legitimate and that we do not recognise it. We hear all the calls of our Cypriot communities for reconciliation and a united Cyprus, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live in peace and harmony.

The stories of the two communities growing together before 1974 is proof that this invasion was not a result of opposing religious and ethnic beliefs but rather of other interests. As a country with similar values and deep historical roots through our Australian Cypriot community, we have the duty to encourage dialogue until a viable solution is reached for all people of Cyprus. It should be our priority to make decisions that will positively influence the future of our South Australian multicultural communities, be they Ukrainian, Palestinian or Cypriot.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (00:16): I thank all honourable members for their contributions and heartfelt sentiments expressed today—the Hon. Jing Lee, the Hon. Tung Ngo and the Hon. Mira El Dannawi.

If you want an example of how important this is to South Australians of Cypriot descent, you only need to look next door in the other chamber at the Hon. Andrea Michaels. Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a viewing of Kay Pavlou's documentary Two Homelands with the minister. There was not a dry eye in the house, but what was even more remarkable was the effect that film had on attendees post the event. Connections were made in that room that were truly remarkable amongst people who had never met before but had some connection in Cyprus and found themselves connected here in South Australia for the first time.

A person known to many of us in this place, Councillor Isaac Solomon, not only had the honour of meeting his great-grandfather's friend in Kay Pavlou's father but also seeing for the first time a photo of his great-grandfather feature on that film, Two Homelands, for the first time ever, and it is no wonder he was as emotional as he was.

The minister—and I said this on the night—I have never seen as raw and emotional as that room saw her. It is very hard to speak publicly after an event about these issues, which are still very raw and public. There is something warm about seeing someone amongst people who have gone through what her family has gone through be able to expose herself like that in such a public way and have those connections here.

There is no question that 1974 is a raw event to this day for Cypriot Australians and South Australians. There is no question that many of them struggle to deal still, as do migrants from all over the world. We are watching, as the honourable member has referred to, what is happening in Gaza at the moment—it impacts all of us. In this case, that illegitimate occupation of Northern Cyprus in 1974 is simply unconscionable and has had lifetime effects on everyone involved.

In the weeks following the introduction of this motion, the Justice for Cyprus coordinating committee organised a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Northern Cyprus: a memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St George; a wreath-laying ceremony where prominent groups and figures had the chance to pay their respects to lives lost as a consequence of the invasion; a talk on current developments in Cyprus from an official representative of the Republic of Cyprus; and a protest rally against the continued illegal occupation held on the steps of Parliament House, including speeches by PSEKA representatives and the Cypriot community.

They are the things we do to counter the sort of visit that we had from Ersin Tatar earlier this year and the actions that he sought to undertake here. It is nice to see everybody coming together across the political divide to say that we acknowledge the pain and the history, and we certainly will not be acknowledging what it is that he brought here.

I will end by reiterating what Greek Cypriots say, and that is 'Den xehno', which means, 'We won't forget'. And you cannot forget. Even when you come here and you are living in the diaspora or wherever you may be, you cannot forget. If you have lost a loved one, if you have been locked out of your house and if there are new Turkish families living in your homes and occupying your family homes, the place of your roots, then you do not forget. Unless and until there is an appropriate resolution, I am very proud that we as a nation stand tall and firm with our Australian Cypriot communities in South Australia and Australia-wide.

Motion carried.

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