“Cyprus should be defined by the blue of the encircling Mediterranean Sea rather than the Green Line, which marks an occupation that should not exist there,” Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia and the Leader of the Labor Party since 27 June 2013 stated, adding that, “The dawn of 20 July, 1974 saw the beginning of the last phase of conflict in the history of Cyprus.”
“The scars of that conflict are still alive in the memory of both Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots, including those who today call Australia home,” Kevin Rudd wrote in his message on the occasion of the commemorative events to mark the 39th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that was read by Tony Burke, Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
“Reconciliation in Cyprus calls for historic leadership and vision. I am confident that the Cypriot communities in Australia stand ready to support and nurture the resumption of the political process to find a balanced, just and durable solution to the question of Cyprus,” Rudd concluded in his message.
On his part, Tony Burke said referring to his recent visit to Cyprus, “I was shocked through my time in Larnaca and particular in Nicosia, when the UN took me into what is described as a buffer zone- what struck me was, it wasn’t just the shopping center I visited which was frozen in time – justice was frozen in time as well. I left as a passionate believer in the need for this to be fixed.”
In the same wavelength, was the message of the leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbot that was read by Senator Arthur Sinodinos. “We reflect on the continuing international efforts to reunite Cyprus with freedom and rights for all,” Abbot wrote.
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