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

Greek wine festival 26/7 June 2009

This is a London wide event organised by the left wing Parykiaki Haravgi newspaper which attracts a good number of exhibitors and ordinary people who come to meet and take part in whatever is going on. Only criticism is that it is low on politics and has not, in the past, been used to organise the community.

Byzantinos editorial board members will be making arrangements for a stall and we will be there for 2010. The strategy for this year is to start advertising and publicise what we are, who we are and what we do in the press. Our campaign will start in September and the student and Trade Union wing of Byzantinos will be putting together the adverts soon.

In the mean time we hope the wine festival goes well.

Helen Nicholas

Peter Droussiotis and the Cypriot Federation

There is no doubt that the Cypriot Federation of Great Britain has a role to play but it also needs to modernise and look at new ways of reaching second and third generation British citizens of Greek origin living and working in the UK. The language of 'today' must be adopted and used and old ideas and theories should be put where they belong.

The decision to re elect Peter Droussiotis to the position of General Secretary sends a good message out and the signal could be a positive one. Peter Drousiotis wants to move the organisation towards the right direction and move away from ideas and thoughts that dominated the previous generation. That does not mean that there is no role for those who help build what we have today and the first generations contribution must never be forgotten but times have changed.

On the other hand it is clear that the majority of Brits of Greek origin who are under 50 have no idea of what the Federation does or what aspirations or objectives it tries to promote. I was amazed, for example, to find that of the 6 members of the editorial board of Byzantinos, the only member that had any contact with the Federation was Nick Venedi and even he had some serious doubts about how integrated the Federation or its ideas are within the London Greek community. Roulla and Christos who are also prominent members of the Trade Union movement in Britain had no contact with the Federation at all. But I will quote Nick Venedi, who is possibly the most prominent member of the editorial board, who said that the Federation and its work will become meanigful if more effort was made to reach out the second and third generation before its members lost interest in anything Greek. Nick feels that Peter Drousiotis is the right man to do this but also thinks that concentrating simply on electing the first Greek MP (even though that Lord Adonis had already done that years ago) will not, in itself achieve much.

We wish the Federation the best of luck and welcome the fact that its board now has more women members than before. that is a positive step.

Andreas Cristou

Cypriot Federation elects new Secretariat

The member organisations of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK last Thursday held the Federation’s biennial elections for its Secretariat.

The incumbent Federation President, Peter Droussiotis, was returned to the post unopposed for a second two year term. Similarly, the three Vice Presidents, Christodoulos Stylianou, Andreas Papaevripides and Michael Kashis and the incumbent Treasurer, Ninos Koumettou, were re-elected unanimously. Mr Bambos Charalambous was newly elected unanimously as General Secretary of the Federation.

The elections also returned a higher representation of women onto the Federation’s expanded 37-strong Secretariat than ever before.

In statements made to the media following his re-election, Mr Droussiotis expressed his gratitude to Federation members for their continuing support saying that he was humbled by the unanimous support that he had received from the membership of the Federation and pledging to work even harder in the future.

“Our efforts to renew the Federation and upgrade its work over the last two years have meant that it is now the acknowledged voice of the UK Cypriot community, able to reach politicians and policy-makers across the whole political spectrum in this country.

The Cyprus problem is at a critical point in its long history with ongoing negotiations between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at reuniting the island accelerating. In these circumstances, we will intensify our programme of work in this critically influential country in order to support the process of the island’s reunification.

“Stability and continuity are absolutely vital during this crucial period. I am, therefore, grateful to our members for returning me to the role of President for a second term, and give my sincerest assurance that I will continue to commit my efforts wholeheartedly. In Andreas, Christodoulos, Michael and Ninos, and our new General Secretary, Bambos Charalambous, I have a very capable team to support me and our Secretariat’s endeavours, and I look forward to getting back to business with them all.”

Newly elected General Secretary, Bambos Charalambous, said:

“I am honoured to serve in this important position and the Federation’s members can be assured that I will give my all in the post. We have a robust forward strategy and actions that will help to enhance the goals of the Federation and our community’s presence in Britain, as well as its contribution both to the cause of Cyprus and to the national life of this country. I am delighted to be given this opportunity to play a part.”

A full list of the newly elected members of the Federation’s Secretariat will be posted on the Federation’s website.