Cyprus-Forum.com

[bill cobbett]

The annual rally org'd by the GB National Fed of CY Associations.

Here is a summary...
"UK Cypriots and British Parliamentarians demand justice in the EU's presidency state"

Prime Minister David Cameron was sent a clear and heartfelt message from the British Cypriot community as thousands of people were joined by politicians from across Britain's political spectrum in a show of solidarity against Turkey's continuing illegal military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.

The rally in Trafalgar Square was addressed by British politicians from the main parties, Mr Droussiotis, Mr Charalambos Pittas, Mayor of occupied Morphou, on behalf of the occupied towns and municipalities of Cyprus, and Mrs Eleni Mavrou, Cyprus Home Affairs Minister, who was the main speaker at the event.

In his introductory speech, Mr Droussiotis articulated the rally's main demands and said, among other things:

"The Turkish Ambassador to the UK objects to the terms 'illegal occupation' and 'invasion' which are included in motions supported by our parliamentary friends in the House of Commons. Turkey finds our presence and what we do, in support of Cyprus, in this country, uncomfortable. It wants to silence us. So much so, that there have been efforts by various elements to derail this rally on the ludicrous grounds that it constitutes a 'hate crime'!


"It is not a 'hate crime' to want your country back; it is not a 'hate crime' to want all Cypriots to live together as free people and in peace in their own country. Ours is a political struggle for human rights, freedom, justice and democracy.

"Today, the Cypriot community of the UK stands united, proudly, by the side of the government and people of the Republic of Cyprus, as the island fulfils its important role as President of the European Union."

Charles Tannock MEP for London, pledged continuing support for the goals of Cyprus and asked of Turkey "How can you be a candidate for membership of the European Union when you don't recognise one of its members and, indeed, the one that holds the Presidency for the next six months?"

Andy Love MP, said that Britain has "a unique role to play as a Guarantor Power of the independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus, and also as a prominent member of the EU and a Security Council member". He went on to refer to the matter of Cypriots that have been missing since the invasion of 1974, and announced a Parliamentary inquiry into the issue.

Mr Charalambos Pittas, the Mayor of occupied Morphou, spoke on behalf of the nine occupied municipalities in Cyprus. He said that "The Cypriot people will never give up their ancestral homes to the Turkish invader" and congratulated the UK Cypriot community for its dedication to the cause of a free and united Cyprus.

Former Minister for Europe, Chris Bryant MP, stated: "It is a disgrace for every politician in Europe that we have a divided capital and a divided island in the EU... the Turkish government made promises to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, to open Turkey's ports to Cypriot traffic, to restore land to the Cypriot refugees and to investigate the fate of missing people. None of those promises have been kept. The UK must do everything in its power to make sure that the promises are delivered."

Veteran Labour politician and former Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson MP said - " "Every single government in the EU should be ashamed that it has not made clear to Turkey that if it wants to be a member of the EU, it has to play by the rules. We cannot have a situation whereby the presidency country of the EU is occupied by an alien force."

Sir Alan Meale MP, lamented the failures of successive UK governments to act in accordance with the UK's responsibilities in relation to Cyprus. "We must tell Turkey to stop interfering in the territory of an EU member and UK ally." He added that "Turkey is trying to claim ownership of areas with reserves of oil and gas around Cyprus. Turkey: you have no claim to these assets. These areas belong to Cyprus!"

Keynote speaker at the event, Mrs Eleni Mavrou, denounced the systematic colonisation of, and the destruction of the cultural heritage in occupied Cyprus. She added that Cyprus was willing to lend all efforts to negotiations for a settlement to the division of the island, even during the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU but made clear that, instead of working in this direction, Turkey is pushing for the island's partition and the establishment of two separate states in Cyprus.

The annual "Rally for Cyprus" was organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to mark the 38th anniversary of the illegal invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish army in July 1974. Photos and videos of the rally are available in the media resources section at: http://www.cypriotfederation.co.uk


grokked has posted a video on youtube of the speeches in Trafalgar Square, London...

[Jerry]

Thanks for posting that Bill I watched the whole clip. I find it difficult to understand why this injustice has been allowed to drag on for 38 years when I see how passionately these MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers feel about the Cyprus tragedy. With people like these vociferously supporting the ROC Turkey ought to realise that its game in the north is up, if it ever wants to be accepted as a genuine European democracy rather than America's Mediterranean bully-boy stooge it should grow up and leave Cyprus to the Cypriots.

Alan Beale's speech at 29.30 was particularly forceful.

[Sotos]

I find it difficult to understand why this injustice has been allowed to drag on for 38 years when I see how passionately these MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers feel about the Cyprus tragedy.

They feed you bullshit to get your votes. The UK must be the most pro-Turk and anti-Cypriot state in EU. Some of them might honestly give a tiny fuck about Cyprus but when they are in power in important positions they always help the Turks.

[Viewpoint]

Even God pissed on these time wasters, they do anything for a microphone.

[bill cobbett]

Appreciation to Sotos and Viewpoint for their words of encouragement.

[CBBB]

Did more than four people turn-up or was it like that dodgy protest in Brussels?

[Sotos]

Appreciation to Sotos and Viewpoint for their words of encouragement.

I fully support all rallies against the occupation!!! My comment was about what Jerry said about "MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers"

[Jerry]

I find it difficult to understand why this injustice has been allowed to drag on for 38 years when I see how passionately these MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers feel about the Cyprus tragedy.

They feed you bullshit to get your votes. The UK must be the most pro-Turk and anti-Cypriot state in EU. Some of them might honestly give a tiny fuck about Cyprus but when they are in power in important positions they always help the Turks.

The UK Government, is, rather like Turkey, in some ways America's stooge but some of these individuals do care about Cyprus and I would rather see them in Trafalgar Square bashing Turkey than supporting it you senile old arsehole. Unfortunately there are not, and never have been, enough of them in Government to make a difference. If a few thousand British Cypriots got off their fat arses and personally lobbied their MPs and MEPs instead of whingeing they might just see a serious change of attitude from the UK.

[bill cobbett]

Appreciation to Sotos and Viewpoint for their words of encouragement.

I fully support all rallies against the occupation!!! My comment was about what Jerry said about "MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers"

Thank you file!!!!! ... that's what we want to hear.... !!!!! End the Turkish Occupation... One CY for All CYs...!!!! ....

[Sotos]

I find it difficult to understand why this injustice has been allowed to drag on for 38 years when I see how passionately these MEPs, MPs and former UK government ministers feel about the Cyprus tragedy.

They feed you bullshit to get your votes. The UK must be the most pro-Turk and anti-Cypriot state in EU. Some of them might honestly give a tiny fuck about Cyprus but when they are in power in important positions they always help the Turks.

The UK Government, is, rather like Turkey, in some ways America's stooge but some of these individuals do care about Cyprus and I would rather see them in Trafalgar Square bashing Turkey than supporting it you senile old arsehole. Unfortunately there are not, and never have been, enough of them in Government to make a difference. If a few thousand British Cypriots got off their fat arses and personally lobbied their MPs and MEPs instead of whingeing they might just see a serious change of attitude from the UK.

What did those "former UK government ministers" did when they were not "former"? The UK has a pro-Turkish and anti-Cypriot foreign policy for decades now. Hey, even some verbal support from some "former" is better than nothing ... but stop fooling yourselves about your ability to affect the foreign policy of the UK!