Omirou, heading an inter-party delegation of the Cyprus House of Representatives, while on an official visit to Australia, addressed this evening (local time) members of the Cypriot and Greek communities of Melbourne.

Omirou also praised the members of the community for their contribution in the effort to restitute the fundamental freedoms and human rights of the Cypriot people, adding that they are a valuable part of the wider Greek Cypriot community.

Speaking on developments concerning the Cyprus issue, Omirou said Turkey’s intransigent stance was intensifying, a fact which, he noted, also became obvious during the last meeting at Greentree, New York, between Cyprus President, the UN Secretary-General and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Omirou said that Ankara has yet to fulfill its obligations towards Cyprus, by recognizing the Republic of Cyprus, permitting Cypriot vessels and aircrafts to use the Turkish waters and airspace, and by working towards a Cyprus solution, based on EU principles.

Moreover, he noted Turkey’s “provocative stance” vis-a-vis the upcoming Cyprus’ Presidency of the European Council during the second half of 2012. EU partners should send a message to Ankara, making clear that this cannot be tolerated, Omirou said.

He added that the Cyprus EU Presidency is a major challenge for the Republic, and noted that the state, the Parliament and the civil society are all working towards this aim.

Having all lights turned on Cyprus during the six-month Presidency term will also help raise awareness on the Turkish occupation of part of the country, Omirou went on.

Concerning the recent discovery of hydrocarbon resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, Omirou said it was turning the odds in favor of Cyprus, adding to the island’s geostrategic importance, with possible positive repercussions for a Cyprus solution.

While responding to questions by members of Melbourne’s Cypriot Community, the House President noted that all parliamentary parties in Cyprus were struggling for attaining unity in the domestic front, and for reaching consensus, to the extend possible, as regards the Cyprus problem.

On the recent criticism towards Alexander Downer, the UN SG Special Advisor on Cyprus and an Australian native, Omirou clarified that the issue should not be confused with Australia’s continuous support to the Republic of Cyprus, based on the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and European law.

Downer recently came under severe criticism for saying that the Greek Cypriots instead of the Republic of Cyprus – a fully-fledged EU member since 2004 – will hold the six monthly rotating presidency of the EU Council, in the second half of 2012. Downer has since rectified his remarks.

The House of Representatives recently passed a resolution, stressing its grave concern and disappointment over the unacceptable statements and actions of the Special Advisor, following the Greentree meeting last January, and noted that Downer had compromised the credibility and impartiality required by his role.

Omirou said that Downer, in his capacity as a UN top envoy in Cyprus, was not representing the Australian government. The House resolution, he went on, was aiming to send a message to the UN Secretary-General to address the issue.

Omirou and the House delegation ware welcomed by a crowd of Melbourne’s and Victoria’s Cypriot and Greek communities, in the presence of High Commissioner of the Republic Yiannis Iacovou, Australian MP Maria Vamvakinou and others.

Earlier, the President of the House and the delegation visited the “Grace of Mary” elderly hostel, in Epping and met with Cypriots from Melbourne’s northern suburbs. In commemorating the House delegation visit, Omirou planted an olive tree in the charitable establishment’s forecourt.
(source: cna)

Yiannakis Omirou

Developments in the ongoing effort to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus will be the focus of parliamentary delegation discussions in Australia this coming week.

“During our official visit, we shall brief our interlocutors on developments in the Cyprus issue, in the light of increasing Turkish intransigence, and seek their support in our effort to achieve a viable, functional and democratic settlement, on the basis of international and European law,” House President Yiannakis Omirou has said regarding his visit to Australia.

Replying to questions, Omirou said he expects their meetings to be “productive and fruitful”.

Omirou, heading a six member delegation, will pay an official visit to Australia, from February 6 to 12, at the invitation of the President of the Australian Senate John Hogg and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Peter Slipper.

The delegation will visit Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and have a series of contacts with political personalities on a federal and state level.

The members of the Cypriot delegation will meet Shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, the Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, Ken Smith, and the President of the Legislative Council of Victoria, Bruce Atkinson.

In Canberra they will meet the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade of the Australian Parliament and lunch with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, Shelley Hancock, the President of the Legislative Council, Don Harwin, and members of the Australia-Cyprus Friendship Group.

The delegation will also meet members of the Cypriot community of Australia, in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, as well as Archbishop of Australia Stylianos.
(source: cna)

Environmental campaigners are worried many more of the ship’s 1,400 containers and their contents will be discharged along the Bay of Plenty coast.
Some of the containers that have already fallen overboard during heavy seas are filled with dangerous chemicals.

Despite salvage efforts to remove more than 1,000 tons of oil from the vessel, New Zealand’s northern resort coastline of Tauranga has seen its pristine beaches spoilt.

More than 20,000 seabirds have been killed as a result.
With the Rena in such a fragile state and storms expected to continue for the next few days, clean-up teams are worried that more black sludge will wash up on the shore.
(source: euronews, AP)

The diver who comes up with the cross is said to be guaranteed good fortune for the rest of the year.

More than 3000 people turned up to watch the tradition be celebrated once again yesterday.  The event was followed by Greek music and dancing and, of course, a lot of food.
(source: herald sun)

Nickolas Varvaris

Greek – Australian Nickolas Varvaris is the mayor of Kogarah City in Sydney, which received this year’s award for the best city in Australia.

Nickolas Varvaris stated he was particularly pleased.  According to the experts’ judgement, “the city shows particular sensitivity to culture, tradition, high quality services, proper management of its finances, environmental protection, appropriate water resources management, placing emphasis on sports, providing the necessary infrastructure.”

Immigration Minister Bowen had the following to say:
“My department routinely conducts compliance operations in the sex industry, generally as joint operations with the AFP, to ensure the owners are not employing foreign nationals working without a valid visa or in breach of work conditions.”

“This is the situation as with any other industry. But following particularly serious and disturbing allegations, it is only appropriate that a thorough analysis now occurs.

“Australia is committed to ensuring the integrity of its migration and visa programs. Allegations of illegal work and the exploitation of workers in any industry by unscrupulous employers or migration agents are taken very seriously.”

Nick Xenophon

Greek – Australian Senator Nick Xenophon reaffirmed the historical reality of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides, paving the way for the Upper House to officially recognize these crimes against humanity.
Speaking in the Senate on October 12 Xenophon declared: “From 1915 to 1923, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian people were the victims of one of the first modern genocides. The exact figures are not known, but it is estimated that over 3.5 million people died as a result of deliberate, systematic actions by the Ottoman Empire.”

According to him, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities in Australia and around the world deserve to have these past atrocities acknowledged as what they were: genocide, armenia.com.au website reported.
The Senator also paid tribute to the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) and the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) for their efforts at raising awareness of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides.

“In the coming months I will be working with the Armenian National Committee and the Australian Hellenic Council to formulate a motion to put to the Senate, and I will encourage all of my colleagues to support it,” he added.

Xenophon recalled that Australia had not formally acknowledged this genocide because of our diplomatic relationship with Turkey.
“If we do not acknowledge this history for fear of offending another country, where do we draw the line? When is an event or issue serious enough for us to take the risk? It is time for Australia to choose a position. Either we acknowledge these genocides, or we refuse to. If we do not take a stand on this issue, we need to consider what it says about our country,” emphasized the Senator.

The number of temporary 457 visa holders in WA rose by 85 percent in July compared with the same period in the previous year.
The increase in skilled migration has drawn some criticism.
“We are concerned about a culture developing in which employers turn to 457 visa workers rather than training,” UnionsWA secretary Simone McGurk told The West Australian.

However, many see great benefits from skilled migration. The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) feels that migration adds value to the resources sector.
“These skilled workers pass on their techniques and experience through knowledge transfer to Australian industry, thus sharing critical experience and good practices from overseas and adding value to the economy,” APPEA said in a report submitted to the Australian government’s employment taskforce.

The students were selected within the framework of this year’s scholarship program in NSW, for their engagement and high performance level in history, particularly the period covering the two wars.

The program involves a visit to Istanbul, Gallipoli, Athens and Crete, with he help of the coordinated actions of the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Vassileios Tolios, who hosted a farewell reception in honor of the students of the NSW Premier’s ANZAC Memorial Tour 2011 program, shortly before their departure from Australia.

Mr. Tolios congratulated the students on their achievement and stressed the importance of this journey in strengthening relations between our two nations and historical memory, mainly as regards the common struggles of Greeks and Australians in the First and Second World War.