Return the Parthenon Marbles

We need to start a campaign to coincide with the Olympic ceremony in London in 2012 to put pressure on the British museum and the government here to return the Parthenon Marbles to where they belong. There is no longer an excuse to keep the Marbles in London and we must do more as a community to ensure that these go back to Greece. This was the decision taken by Byzantinos at its board meeting last night. We therefore invite all organisations to contribute to this major objective of such great importance.

Helen Nicholas

The need to review

The reality is that we need to review and appraise where we are and where we can get to as a Greek community. We are constantly marginalised and regarded as a minority within a plethora of other minorities. That was the message Nick Venedi, Chair of the Greek TU wing of B send out to those on the editorial board and to Trade Unionists who believe in the rights of ethnic and other minorities to be treated fairly and on equal terms. The review of our structures and how we work to achieve equality should become our priority in the next few months.

Helen Nicholas

Demonstration led by Peter Droussiotis

The Greek community in London came together today to demonstrate their anger at the 35 year dispute. People turned up in the centre of London once again to show their support and politicians from different parties in Britain showed their usual bipolar support ensuring that prospective voters who were present would hopefully remember them and spare them a vote. In the meantime the people of Cyprus are suffering the affects of occupation whilst the international community play their two faced approach to the issue. Another year another story but well done to the Federation and Peter Droussiotis who organised the event.

Andreas Christou

Preparations for demonstration

Greeks all over the country and friends of freedom and the rule of international law are preparing to demonstrate outside the Turkish embassy on the35th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The island remains divided and whichever way politicians all over the world are trying to present the case the fact remains that a crime under international law was committed. Efforts to find a just solution to the problem are going rather slowly with continuous provocations from the Turkish military.

Andreas Crhistou

The struggle to unite Cyprus

Here is a press release from the Cyprus Federation of U.K (Should read July 2009)

THE STRUGGLE FOR A UNITED CYPRUS CONTINUES – SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, STAND UP, BE HEARD

The President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, Peter Droussiotis, today urged all UK Cypriots and friends of Cyprus to show their support for a reunited Cyprus and their opposition to Turkey’s continuing military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, by joining the UK Cypriot community’s annual ‘Rally for Cyprus’ in London on Sunday 19th July 2008.
The rally, organised each year by the Federation in order to mark and condemn the invasion of the northern part of Cyprus by the Turkish army in July 1974, is the biggest opportunity for the UK Cypriot community and its supporters to call for the termination of Turkey’s continuing military occupation and to highlight the injustices which continue to be suffered by the Cypriot people as a result of that occupation.
Mr. Droussiotis emphasised the importance of making the rally successful again this year:
“It is now more important than ever that we demonstrate our opposition to the illegal Turkish military occupation of Cyprus’s northern part, as well as our support for the ongoing negotiations between the leaders of the two communities on the island, which aim at a comprehensive and equitable settlement that will serve the interests of both communities.
“The dialogue between the two leaders is encouraging and has brought us closer to a solution that will restore Cyprus to unity, but a settlement cannot be achieved unless the Turkish Government changes its stance. For too long, Turkey has stood in the way of justice and has adopted positions which are inconsistent with a free, truly reunited and independent Cyprus.
“The United Kingdom, a close ally of Turkey, with historic responsibilities to Cyprus, needs to use its influence over Turkey proactively, so that the latter takes the practical steps necessary to help bring about the true unity of the island: a federal state with a single sovereignty, international personality and a single citizenship which are the agreed principles guiding the ongoing negotiations. This clear message must be heard in the British capital and that message starts with us, the Cypriot community in the UK.”
The rally will begin with picketing outside the Turkish Embassy in Belgrave Square at 2.45pm on Sunday 29 July 2009 and will continue with a march through central London which will lead to Trafalgar Square where the main event will take place at approximately 4.15pm. The main speaker at the Rally will be Mr Neoklis Sylikiotis, Cyprus Minister of the Interior, who will be in London especially for this event. Other speakers will include British Parliamentarians from all three of the main UK political parties.
Before the rally in Trafalgar Square, Mr Droussiotis will lead a Federation delegation which will hand deliver petitions to the Turkish Ambassador in the UK and to Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street.
ENDS

For more information, please call Tony Sophoclides on 07887 935 335.
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Notes to editors

- Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish military forces invaded the northern part of the island and thereafter occupied approximately 38% of its territory.
- The National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom was founded shortly after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and has since represented the largest community of Cypriots outside of the island itself.
- The Federation is an umbrella organisation of the Cypriot community associations across the UK and seeks to coordinate the activities of more than 300,000 Britons of Cypriot origin.

Anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus 19 July 2009 Peter Droussiotis to lead the march

Another year and another march towards the centre of London to mark the illegal invasion and subsequent occupation of the Republic of Cyprus a member state of the European Union and whilst we are told that our 'leaders' are preparing us for a possible solution (we heard that one before) no one is holding their breath. We have somehow failed to reverse what clearly is an illegal act by a country that professes to be European in culture and outlook.

I understand that the Cyprus Federation with Peter Droussiotis will be heading the march and the presentations in Trafalgar square on the 19th. We must mobilise and support the event as we have done in previous years as individuals. But we must also look at whether the framework we have operated within for 34 years is adequate and examine other ways to highlight our just cause but more of that after the 19th. Lets just see how many people under 30 will be at the march and that would tell us whether the current system we have is capable of supporting any real efforts...

Helen Nicholas