Dear Friends,

This bulletin opens with the exhilaration and joy that Markos Baghdatis gave to Cyprus and all Hellenes during the Australian open.  Indeed, he was embraced by all Australians and watched as far away as Northern Ipiros by many people who had never seen tennis in their life.  His enthusiasm was infectious and his unaffected nature won him and the game many new fans.  Bravo, too, to the Melbourne supporters for raising the issue of Cyprus.

CYPRUS

Anglo-American pressure has increased on Cyprus to try and obtain some type of Taiwan  like status for the occupied territory.  TurkeyοΏ½s recent proposal to open Turkish ports and airspace to Greek Cypriot ships and planes in exchange for removing the economic embargo on the occupation regime is once again aimed at deflecting attention from the real issues and causing confusion.  The opening of ports and airports to Cyprus is an obligation Turkey has to fulfill in order to enter the EU and this cannot be presented as a compromise or concession.  Turkey is an occupying power in blatant breach of UN Resolutions and is trying by all means possible to legitimize its illegal action in Cyprus, by upgrading the status of the regime in the occupied territory.   Turkey made this proposal solely to avoid its clear obligations to the EU.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES

There have been important changes in both Hellas and Australia after the recent Cabinet reshuffles.  Theodoros Kassimis has replaced Panayiotis Skandalakis as Deputy Foreign Minister with responsibility for the apodimoi.  His new boss is Dora Bakoyianni, the outgoing Mayor of Athens.  Savvas Tsitouridis has replaced Panos Panayiotopoulos as Social Security Minister and this has been mirrored in Australia by Senator Kay Patterson and Joe Hockey. Let us hope that this will not seriously delay the negotiations for the final draft of a Social Security Agreement between the two countries.
2.
SAE PRESIDIUM MEETING

The SAE Board will meet in Thessaloniki on 9 οΏ½ 12 March with the new Deputy Minister Kassimis.  Oceania issues will include the Social Security Agreement, the recognition of Australian University Degrees and other educational matters.  The writer has prepared submissions on behalf of the Board to the Hellenic Government on the Elliniada, the Parthenon Marbles and the establishment of a Ministry for Immigration, Repatriation and Apodimoi.  The new Minister will brief the Board on progress with the new SAE law and dates for the Regional and World Conferences to be held later this year.

JOTTINGS
οΏ½ In SAE OceaniaοΏ½s drive for the restitution of the Parthenon Marbles a series of seminars will be held in all capital cities beginning in Melbourne on 29 March, 2006 οΏ½ look out for the announcements.
οΏ½ February is synonymous with the liberation of Ipiros and the autonomy of Northern Ipiros and to celebrate the events various functions have been planned in the major cities.
οΏ½ March is festival month with Adelaide hosting its Glendi day on Sunday the 12th and Sydney on Sunday the  26th to coincide with Independence Day.  MelbourneοΏ½s Antipodes Festival will go over to April due to the Commonwealth Games.
οΏ½ The KE ()  internet service will soon operate at the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Consulates.  This service will provide information when dealing with Hellenic Government Ministries and Authorities.
οΏ½ A reminder to all travel agents and would be pilgrims to Gallipoli to include Lemnos, Athens and Crete in their itinerary.  Not only are there Commonwealth war cemeteries in those locations but also a vast history that connects Hellas and Australia as allies in both world wars in many campaigns including the illustrious Battle of Crete.  Did you know that apart from Britain, Hellas and France are the only two European countries and allies where Australian soldiers have fought and died.
οΏ½ The seventh festival of student theatre will be held at the University of Crete between 1 and 7 July, 2006.  Applications must be submitted by 15 April, 2006.  For details e-mail [email protected]
οΏ½ As part of the cultural events for the Turin Winter Olympic Games there is a unique exhibition of an ancient Greek 1st B.C. papyrus copy of the geographer Artemidoros vast cartographical work which is lost in its entirety.  The papyrus was in the ground for over 1800 years and was purchased by an Italian Foundation for $3.4 million in 2004.  The 2.5 metre x 32.5 centimetre papyrus is being displayed for the first time and according to the exhibitionοΏ½s curator οΏ½helps write new pages of Greek literature, cartography and art historyοΏ½.

Stay in touch !     
        20 February, 2006

Costa Vertzayias