Jul82013

The President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom, Peter Droussiotis, today called on British Cypriots and all who support justice and human rights, to voice a collective call for a free, united Cyprus at a march and rally in Central London this coming Sunday.

Mr Droussiotis urged the Cypriot Diaspora and friends of the island to make clear to Prime Minister David Cameron the strength of opposition to Turkey’s continuing military occupation of Cyprus’s northern part, by joining a picket, march and rally in London on Sunday 14 July.

The annual rally, organised by the Federation every year since Turkey’s military invasion of Cyprus in 1974, marks the tragic anniversary of that disgraceful event. It is the biggest gathering of UK Cypriots and friends of Cyprus, who come together in protest against the illegal, scandalous division that still plagues the island 39 years after the Turkish army invaded and occupied its northern territory.

Mr Droussiotis called for a renewed effort by UK Cypriots and their allies, saying:

“As we approach four decades of military occupation in Cyprus, it is crucial for British Cypriots and our friends in the UK to demonstrate our support for a free and united Cyprus. Recent months have witnessed an unprecedented economic crisis in Cyprus, as well as major civil unrest on the streets of Turkey. However, these circumstances cannot be allowed to take the focus away from the fact that Cyprus remains in the shadow of Turkey’s army of occupation.

“We call upon our friends in the UK and European Parliaments, the European Union and, in particular, the British Government which has treaty obligations in relation to Cyprus, to press Turkey hard so that it ends its aggression against the island and its unacceptable policy of partition.”

Sunday’s actions will begin at 2.45pm with a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Belgrave Square, followed by a march through central London, via Piccadilly Circus, to Trafalgar Square for a rally at 4.15pm. A Federation delegation will hand in a petition to the British Prime Minster at 10 Downing Street immediately before the rally and a letter of protest will be delivered to Turkish Ambassador before the start of the march.

The main speaker at the event will be Mr Nicos Kouyialis, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus. British Parliamentarians and MEPs will join Mr Droussiotis, as well as representatives of Cypriot refugee organisations and occupied municipalities in Cyprus, on the platform in Trafalgar Square to show their solidarity with the Cyprus cause.