Rally for Cyprus 2010 - 2of7 Peter Droussiots

Added: 21-07-2010 12:50:14

Clip 2of7, Peter Droussiotis, as President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK addresses the meeting "UK CYPRIOTS CALL ON CAMERON TO ACT FOR JUSTICE AND UNITY IN CYPRUS" National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU. Tel: 020 8445 9999 Fax: 020 8445 9977 http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk 19th July 2010 - Press Release British Cypriots joined politicians from across Britain's political spectrum yesterday to condemn Turkey's intransigence over efforts to end its continuing illegal military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus. A petition was delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron, calling for the UK to use its influence with the Turkish Government in order to press Turkey to withdraw its occupying troops and to play an active and positive role in current efforts to reunite Cyprus for the benefit of all Cypriots. A letter to the Turkish Ambassador to the UK was also delivered following a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in London. Later, a march through the heart of London culminated in a mass rally in Trafalgar Square. The annual July London "Rally for Cyprus" was organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to mark the twin anniversaries of the fascist coup by the military junta then ruling Greece on 15h July 1974, and the illegal invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish army which followed 5 days later, on 20th July 1974. Twelve days before the rally, on 6th July 2010 , an event took place in the Houses of Parliament to offer support to relatives of people still missing since Turkey invaded the island in the summer of 1974 and to lobby politicians for their support. The rally in Trafalgar Square was addressed by several British politicians from the main parties. Mr Peter Droussiotis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, and The Minister of Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, also addressed the event. In his opening address, Mr. Droussiotis said: "We expect the new British Prime Minister David Cameron whom we petitioned at 10 Downing Street today and the new Foreign Secretary William Hague to tell Turkey that it must change its tune on Cyprus, that it must, at long last, change course, if it wants to make further progress in Europe. "Turkey's unacceptable behaviour in Cyprus must not be rewarded; it must be punished if it is not corrected. The new British government has a unique opportunity to help bring this about -- to make this vital and principled change to its approach to Turkey." Tribute was then paid to former MPs in attendance, still showing their support for Cyprus; Tom Cox, Eddie O'Hara, Andrew Dismore and Ian Twinn. Respects were also paid to Rudi Vis, the former MP for Finchley and Golders Green and a long-standing friend of Cyprus and the UK Cypriot community, who died earlier this year. Other parliamentary supporters of the Cyprus cause in attendance included Transport Minister Theresa Villiers MP, Mike Freer MP, Matthew Offord MP, Alan Meale MP and Jim Sheridan MP. The Cyprus High Commissioner HE Alexandros Zenon and his Deputy Mr Dimitris Hatziargyrou represented the Cyprus High Commission at the event while the Mayors of the occupied towns of Kyrenia and Morphou, Mrs Maria Ioannou and Mr Charalambos Pittas, respectively, represented Cypriot towns and villages under Turkey's military occupation. (more follows...) ------- Organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, there are full details of speeches and copies of press releases available at: http://www.cypriotfederation.org.uk/ Part of Theatro Technis' Cyprus Week 2010: http://www.theatrotechnis.com Video source: http://www.youtube.com/grokked

Tags: Peter Droussiotis Turkey Cyprus Invasion Occupation Refugees Human Rights Britain unitedkingdom London lobby Greece deepstate Cypriots Greeks Turks war missingpeople enclaved europe eu europeanunion councilofeurope settlers property theft politics echr la

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