ATHENS – Commemorative events to mark the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Crete took place in Australia and New Zealand May 9-25.

The events were attended by the Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Georgios Kyriakou as representative of the Chief of the Armed Forces, General Konstantinos Floros, following an invitation by the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand (K.O.A.N.Z.), Antonis Tsourdalakis.

The Chief of Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended commemorative events in Perth and Sydney, as well as wreath-laying ceremonies at the Australian Hellenic Memorial, the Unknown Soldier Memorial at the Australian War Memorial, the Shrine of Remembrance, the Australian Hellenic War Memorial in Australia, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in New Zealand.

He also met with Greek Orthodox hierarchs, the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport, Major Events and Creative Arts, Steve Dimopoulos, the Ambassador of Greece to Canberra George Papakosta, the Consul General of Greece to Sydney John Mallikourtis and the Consul General of Greece to Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelaki, the Consul General of Greece to Perth Georgia Karasiotou, the Honorary Consul of Greece to Wellington Georgios Neonakis, the Cypriot High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to Australia Antonis Sammoutis, and representatives of the expatriate community and younger generations.

Finally, he had a private meeting with the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Australian and New Zealand Armed Forces, Vice Admiral David Johnston and Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies, respectively, with whom he exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

(Material from ANA/MPA was used in this report)