Andrea Stylianou

Greek Cypriot Diaspora in Australia: Their Involvement in the Justice Process for Cyprus Andrea Stylianou

This thesis contributes to the field of the political science of ethnic lobbying in the Diaspora. It emphasises on the Greek Cypriots in the Australian Diaspora who lobby for justice in their homeland of Cyprus. It looks at how lobby groups were formed to assist in raising the Cyprus Problem in the Australian public domain and how these groups liaised with diplomats and politicians of all political persuasions. It specifically refers to how lobby groups in the Cypriot community of Australia assisted refugees in finding justice through the European Court of Human Rights by helping them pursue legal cases against the Republic of Turkey - who sent Turkish troops to illegally invade and occupy north Cyprus in 1974. To understand why Australia?s Cypriot community and lobby are influential, the thesis looks at the migration patterns of Cypriots to Australia and at the demographic distribution of Cypriots throughout Australia. Interviews with diplomats and other Cyprus experts at the United Nations are also included, such as the mastermind of the proposed Annan Plan. Other issues covered include a historical summary of Cypriot politics and the Turkification of occupied northern Cyprus.