Awareness campaign and meetings in Australia
The visit of representatives from the occupied Municipalities took place successfully. The Mayor of Lapithos, Mr. Athos Eleftheriou and the City Councilor of Famagusta, Constantinos Hadjikakou visited Australia and participated in the Congresses of Expatriate Cypriots.
During their visit, from the 25th of May until the 1st of June 2010, they also had several meetings and gave interviews to television and radio stations; and newspapers.
In Adelaide, they met with the Premier of South Australia, Mr. Mike Rann; with the opposition leader, Mrs Isobel Redmond; the Mayor of West Torrens, Mr. John Trainer; the Federal MP Mr. Steve Georganas; the President of the Greek Orthodox Community, Mr. Vasilis Elovaris; and Bishop Nikandros of Dorileou.
The Cypriot communities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Sidney organized gatherings in which discussions about the Cyprus problem and the activities of the occupied Municipalities took place.
During the Congresses the two representatives also met with the Republic of Cyprus High Commissioner and its Consul in Australia, Mr. Yiannis Iacovou and Mrs Christiana Tzika respectively.
At the meeting with the Cypriots of Australia and in their Congresses Messrs. Eleftheriou and Hadjikakou congratulated them on their multifaceted activities regarding the Cyprus problem and the problem faced by the expatriates in Australia. They also assured them that their struggle will continue until the day of solution and the reunification of Cyprus.
They also expressed to the Australian officials the thanks of all refugees and in general of the people of Cyprus regarding the moral approach of Australia to the Cyprus problem.
Mr Athos Eleftheriou wishes to thank the Cypriot expatriates of Australia for their invitation, as well as for the help they provided to the representatives. Special thanks are expressed to the President of PASEKA, Mr. Costas Procopiou; the President of the Federation of Cypriot Communities and Organizations of Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Michalis Christodoulou; the President of the Cypriot Community of Adelaide, Mr. Christos Ioannou; the President of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne, Mr. Stelios Aggelodemou and the Secretary of the Federation, Charalambos Kapnoullas. Also to Panikos Ppyros, Deputy President of South Australia of the committee for cultural and national matters, Mr. Yiorgos Efthymiou, Elli Campos and everyone who helped our representatives in Australia.