First, it was the Euro 2004, then came the dream unforgettable Olympic Games to make 2004 a fantastic year. Not to be outdone, 2005 has seen Elena Paparizou's success in the Eurovision contest, third in the world in water polo and now European champions in the basketball. Hellas is now the reigning champions of Europe in the world's two most most popular team sports. Congratulations to everyone involved οΏ½

CYPRUS
A committee of 8 eminent professors of international law has confirmed the verdict of 76% of Greek Cypriots which rejected the Annan Plan in April 2004. It has found that the plan was not viable, it was incompatible for a member of the EU, violated human rights and contradicted international law. This is the plan that the USA led alliance attempted to force upon Cyprus and then sought to punish the Greek Cypriots for expressing their democratic right to reject an unworkable and unjust plan. Meanwhile, the EU, after considerable negotiations, agreed on a counter statement to Turkey's unilateral statement that it does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. The text renders Turkey's obligation to fully implement the Protocol on Customs Union towards the Republic of Cyprus as an EU member state clear and imperative! At last the EU has dealt with this most blatant paradox of Turkey expecting Cyprus to support its accession to the EU while it does not recognise Cyprus, It has now been made clear that Turkey's position has no legal standing and that if it does not allow Cypriot ships into its ports (and in due course fully recognise Cyprus) Turkey will not join the EU.

It is an ill wind that blows no good. On the 50th commemoration of the Septemvriana (the Turkish government orchestrated pogrom of 6 September 1955 which has led to the almost total extinction of the Greek Community of Constantinople) most Turkish newspapers have acknowledged the vile crime committed against the Greek Community and describe the events as Turkey's night of shame A photographic exhibition of 120 black and white photographs of the pogrom have attracted thousands of visitors to a gallery in a neighbourhood where the violence was centered. Commenting on the exhibition, the leader of the Jewish Community said: For the first time in the history of Turkey, a shameful happening has been brought out into the open. Prominent and simple Turks who lived through the horror have come out admitting shame and culpability. Apologising has a cathartic effect and it is now time that Turkey takes another step forward and makes an open admission of the genocide committed against its Christian subjects between 1914 and 1922.

SAE LAW
SAE Oceania has completed a series of public meetings in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne to discuss the proposed law for SAE tabled by Deputy Foreign Minister Panayiotis Skandalakis. The proposals and submissions will be collected by the Oceania

Regional Council and forwarded on to the SAE Board and Hellenic Government. The last two weeks of September were indeed very intense for SAE Oceania with three public meetings, a Youth Conference in Adelaide and a Regional Council Meeting in Melbourne.

MOTHERS OF HELLENISM
During October SAE Oceania will welcome to Australia Alexandra Protsenko (President of the Federation of Greek Communities of Ukraine) and Eleni Konstantinidis (Secretary of the SAE Board from Cyprus) as part of events being organised by OEEGA to promote the Mothers of Hellenism project. (A mother in Australia and Cyprus jointly adopt a child in Ukraine, Russia or Georgia). Our visitors will be guest speakers at a meeting at the Cyprus Club in Sydney on Thursday 20 October, in Adelaide on 25 October and in Perth on 27 October. SAE Oceania congratulates and thanks OEEGA for its support. More details may be obtained from Sophie Catharios on (02) 93997095 or Georgia Wright on 0419989893.

AAIA
The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an international symposium in Athens on 10-12 October 2005. NSW Governor, Marie Bashir will attend together with Chancellors and representatives from most Australian Universities. SAE Oceania is a proud sponsor of the Symposium.

AHC
The Australian Hellenic Council will hold its Niki Awards Dinner at the Lemnos Club Sydney on Saturday 5 November 2005. The Niki awardees are Michael Osborne Vice Chancellor of La Trobe University (Melbourne) and Dr Alfred Vincent.
For tickets contact Panayiotis Diamandis on 0415745537 or Nick Janes on 95331604.

DIMITRIA
October is synonymous with the Dimitria Festival organised by the Pan Macedonian Federation in most states. The Festival is a great example of the continuity of Hellenic civilisation over the millennia. A festival to honour the fertility goddess Dimitra (Demeter) in antiquity became the largest trade fair during the middle ages (in honour of St. Dimitrios the patron saint of Thessaloniki) and is today a major cultural event celebrated in Macedonia and by Hellenes everywhere.

For details of what's happening with SAE in your region contact George Angelopoulos ([email protected]) or Kosta Biris ([email protected]) in Sydney, John Kalokerinos ([email protected]) in Canberra, Jenny Krasopoulakis ([email protected]) or Arthur Tsouhantaris ([email protected]) in Melbourne, Theo Maras ([email protected]) in Adelaide, John Bellas ([email protected]) in Brisbane, Fotini Zivadinovic ([email protected]) in Wellington and Katerina Reklitis ([email protected]) in Perth.

In closing this bulletin I wish to share with you the concern of Oceania's Regional Council on the decline in the number of students studying Modern Greek. The maintenance of Modern Greek Studies remains our community's top priority and every effort should be made by all interested parties at all levels to address this important issue.

Costa Vertzayias                                                                                       6 October 2005