London Greek Radio

The X Factor Greece Final, which aired on July 20th on Skai Greek Television, produced this year’s series winner; he is Cypriot singer Panagiotis Koufogiannis. He landed a recording contract with FeelGood Records and he drove away on the night, with keys to a brand new car. Well, that’s an extra perk, you won’t ever likely see on the UK’s X Factor…

The host, pop legend Sakis Rouvas announced the result, which coincidentally turned out to be an all ‘Cypriot’ Top 2 finalists line-up, between fellow Cypriots Panagiotis and the second-placed Soula Evaggelou; trailing third were the group Deevibes.

The judges comprised famous Greek singers Tamta, Giorgos Papadopoulos and Bambis Stokas – but Panagiotis had the winning coach, in the shape, of none other than acclaimed Greek artist Giorgos Mazonakis. He managed to beat his coach rivals upon making his debut as a mentor on the X Factor programme.

Born to Cypriot parents in Strovolos, our victor underwent his music studies at the well-known, prestigious, favourite to many Cypriot artists and locals musicians, the Berklee College of Music in the States.

The 28-year-old first competed at the Cypriot Eurovision heat stages in 2015, finishing as the runner up to John Karayiannis. He would one day like to fly the Cypriot flag at the Eurovision Song Contest. We guess then, achieving a very famous X Factor victory will certainly, be a very good thing for his chances…

Here at London Greek Radio, we would like to congratulate Panagiotis on being crowned the X Factor champion and wish him all the very best for the future.

You can watch his X Factor performance here, with Panagiotis giving us a cover rendition of ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ by The Weeknd:

Article written by Tony Neophytou

One of the most popular and feel good films of this decade is marking its 10 year anniversary next July. Filled with songs, sun, sea and a whole lot of mystery, Mamma Mia stole our hearts back in 2008 with its sensitive storyline and glorious Greek coastline. We found ourselves singing and dancing to the legendary ABBA hits, while watching the characters run along the sandy beaches of Skopelos.  The ending definitely left the whole world shouting “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” a sequel, and although it has taken them ten years to do it, fans of the film are ecstatic that a follow up is its way.

But for the people of Skopelos however, it is a bitter sweet moment. For financial reasons, film makers have decided to shoot in Croatia, on the Dalmatian island of Vis, leaving the beautiful scenery of Skopelos behind. Islanders are devastated by the move as not only did the movie make £460 million, but there was an immediate increase in tourists to islands across the Aegean Sea; this simply wasn’t a coincidence. The film was definitely what captivated hearts worldwide and convinced holiday makers to discover these immaculate islands for themselves.

The reason behind the film’s upheaval is that production measures differ greatly in Greece as opposed to Croatia. For one, permits are not required in order to film in Croatia, and here, subsidies are offered to the film’s production team. Furthermore, due to legislation passed in 2011, foreign productions are excluded from tax return policies, so this upheaval is one to ensure film makers are not breaking the bank and it seems Croatia is to be the cheaper alternative.

Regardless of where the sequel is set, I have faith that it’ll recapture our love for this monumental  film, and the director, Ol Parker will not dare to disappoint. However, I guess time will tell, and come July 2018 we will all see if the sequel lives up to the original, and if not,  it’ll stand true that it really is the Greeks that do things best.

Article written by Steph Antoniou

The UK Government has repeated its position that it is ready to accept any possible agreement between the remaining parties involved on the Cyprus security and guarantees issue.

The position is outlined in a letter, dated 26 July, to member of the UK Cypriot community, Doros Partasides, a distinguished photographer and active member of the community who along with other UK Cypriot refugees from the occupied part of Cyprus had asked the Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan for the UK Government’s support at the Conference for Cyprus that took place last month in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

The member of the Cyprus desk at the Foreign Office signing the letter states: “It is disappointing that the Conference on Cyprus at Crans Montana ended without agreement. The Government continues to work for a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus that will benefit all Cypriots. We are encouraging all parties to reflect on the outcome and consider next steps.

“On security and guarantees, we always made clear that we are open to whatever arrangements the two sides and the other Guarantor Powers could agree on in order to meet the security needs of a reunited Cyprus”.

UN-peace talks at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana took place between June 28-July 6 but failed to reach any fruitful results.

The talks, under the auspices of the UN, aim at reuniting Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, under a federal roof.

Article written by CNA

Government says it is monitoring information about Turkish actions meticulously

The government is meticulously following information as regards the steps taken by the Turkish side on the Cyprus problem and is getting ready to take specific actions which will be announced once they have been implemented, Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides has said.

 

Christodoulides was replying to journalists’ questions at the Presidential Palace, on Friday. Asked whether the minutes of what happened at the final dinner in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, have been sent to the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the EU, he replied that “everything referred to by the President of the Republic in his relevant statement on the specific issue has been implemented.”

 

Replying to another question, Christodoulides said that “under current circumstances we consider that it is important that” UNFICYP`s mandate “has been renewed for six months, until January 31.”

 

He also said that there are some very important references in the relevant resolution aproved by the UN Security Council, including the reference to resolution 1251 which describes the format of the solution, the fact that there are enhanced references to the fact that negotiations take place in the framework of United Nations resolutions, as well as the reference calling for the return to the status quo in Strovilia and for not acting in a way which would change the status quo.

 

On the reference for a technical review of UNFICYP, he explained that it is not the first time that such a review will take place and he spoke of a new approach on the part of the US administration on peace keeping missions, adding that there will be reviews for all missions.

 

At the same time, he informed that a number of countries, among which a big one, have expressed their readiness to contribute to Cyprus’ peace keeping mission with human resources.

 

Asked to comment on a statement made by the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq that if the parties in Cyprus are willing to consider new confidence building measures in relation to reports from the Turkish Cypriot press that the fenced-off part of the city of Famagusta, known as Varosha, will be opened, he recalled that the recent measures announced by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are actually the actions of Turkey.

 

Therefore, under no circumstances do they constitute confidence building measures, he pointed out.

 

He referred to the relevant paragraph of the High Level Agreement of 1979 and UN resolutions 550 of 1984 and 789 of 1992 which refers very specifically to the need to return the fenced-off city to the United Nations.

 

e assured that the government follows and evaluates all information meticulously on a daily basis.

 

It is within our duties to do this and to approach all matters seriously, he said. At the same time, he noted that “even at this very moment we are preparing specific actions on the part of the Republic of Cyprus, which due to the seriousness with which we approach all issues, will be announced after they are implemented.”

 

Asked whether the government would advise refugees from the fenced – off city what to do if Turkey gives access to them to go and live there under Turkish occupation, the Government Spokesman noted that of course it will as it did in the matter of the invitation by the Turkish occupying army for the return of Maronites to their occupied villages. In that case, he recalled, we have expressed our position clearly.

 

We are a responsible government and we will certainly express our position so that the Cypriot people can be informed.

 

Replying to a question on whether Greek Cypriots should change their attitude as Akinci suggested he said that “we do not feel the need to make such type of personal attack.”

 

This, he added, can be derived from the fact that together with Greece we were the only side to submit very specific proposals in Crans-Montana.

 

He further commented that in Akinci’s statements there is no reference to President Anastasiades’ challenge and invitation to say whether UN Special Adviser’s Espen Barth Eide’s allegations are true as regards the conversation during the final dinner at the Swiss resort.

 

Christodoulides also said that Akinci is obviously trying to create a confrontation within the Greek Cypriot community by making references to AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou and stressed that the government “will not respond to Mr Akinci’s challenge.”

 

“Despite the fact that certain different approaches are absolutely respected and are legitimate it would never be right to give a picture of division within the Greek Cypriot side,” he pointed out, urging everyone to be careful in their public statements.

 

Replying to a journalist’s comment that Akinci’s criticism has focused on President Anastasiades, the Government Spokesman pointed out that this is due to Akinci’s inability to refer to very specific facts as regards the positions expressed in Crans-Montana.

 

He gave the example of the chapters on security and guarantees, and territory. He added that in the context of the discussion it was clear that the return concerned part of the Turkish occupied town of Morphou.

 

Referring to the issue of the Maronite villages, he noted that the Turkish side’s position was against the will and true wish of the people of those villages.

 

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.  The latest round of the UN-backed Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. The peace talks under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.

 

The Security Council established UNFICYP through resolution 186 (1964) on 4 March 1964 and has renewed the mission’s mandate for six-month terms since then.

 

The fenced – off Varosha part of the once thriving holiday resort, on the eastern coast of Cyprus, has been fenced off since the 1974 Turkish invasion and according to the UN the Turkish military is responsible for it. Repeated attempts to hand the fenced off area of Famagusta – known as Varosha – to UN administration and its Greek Cypriot legal inhabitants have so far failed due to the stance of the Turkish army.

 

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With the dust barely settled to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest since the elapse of a few months, the Cypriot broadcaster CyBc is expected to be announcing very soon the launching of a nationwide song contest, as a way of selecting our Cypriot tune, at 2018’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

The drawing up of the specific rules for our Cypriot national final will be soon to be officially released, and it’s believed, this will be as quickly as August or in the autumn. We here at London Greek Radio have also learnt some information about what shall comprise the local competition. The public contest will be applicable to Cypriot singers, ‘maybe’ also songwriters and composers… We ‘insert’ here… another option… the powers that be are seriously thinking of appointing a well-known ‘composer’, to pen our Cypriot tune. Our very own UK Cypriot songwriters, producers and singers of Cypriot origin, will have eligibility to be entering the race (only in the case of an ‘open’ final). In years gone by, our talented British Cypriot artists have noticeably left a strong impression on it, taking advantage of their chance to be entering Eurovision finals on the island.

Now, as Cyprus regroups and looks towards the future let’s take a moment to reflect on the last couple of successful years. This year’s finalists ‘Hovig’ came 5th in the semi-final, continuing the qualifying streak, as we cannot forget the achievement of the up-beat Cypriot band Minus One in 2016. In 2015 John Karayiannis with the song ‘One Thing I Should Have Done’ – written by UK Cypriot Mike Connaris won the only Cypriot final we have seen, in the last three years.

The local Eurovision delegation is certainly looking to make it a fourth qualification Cypriot entry in a row, from the selection procedure they are about to embark on.

With the prospect of having a national song contest to choose our next entrant, the country’s Eurovision strategy for 2018 is starting to take shape.

Head back to the London Greek Radio website for all of the latest developments including the release of the formal rules and regulations for the Cypriot Final, outlining the steps that must be taken to submit your potential entry to the Cypriot song competition.

Article written by Tony Neophytou

The Cabinet in Cyprus gave on Wednesday the green light to a proposal allowing state universities to establish businesses based on their research outcomes, Education and Culture Minister Costas Kadis said.

In statements at the Presidential Palace, Kadis said that during today’s meeting the Cabinet approved the legal framework allowing universities to make the most of the scientific research outcomes, the innovations, the scientific knowledge which results from state universities in Cyprus and turn it to products and services which could be marketed to benefit the country’s economy and society.

“It is a very important decision, which makes our universities even more modern, bringing them closer to the productive fabric and the country’s economy, a decision which we believe will create new jobs, will boost the economy.” In essence, he added, “we follow the examples of countries which have advanced on the basis of such policies.”

Kadis pointed out that the great progress achieved by Israel in the area of knowledge society has been based in such synergies.

Replying to a question as to which areas this will focus on he said that there are no exceptions and no limitations. Wherever there are any outcomes they will be able to be put to use on a business level or on a services level to the benefit our economy and society, he noted.

Article written by CNA

Greece has successfully returned to the financial markets on Tuesday after a three-year absence.

The debt-ridden country has raised €3bn with a new five-year bond at a yield of 4.625%, which is lower than expected and even lower than the 4,95% that Greece sold its previous five-year bond in 2014.

A government official said the sale was an “absolute success” that “reaffirms the positive trajectory of the Greek economy which is making steady steps to exiting crisis and bailout programmes.”

Investors demand “exceeded our expectations,” said the Greece’s Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos.

Article written by

Below you can read the letter sent by Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson with regard to the intentions of the Turkish Cypriot ‘administration’ to open Derynia beach in the occupied of Famagusta in Cyprus under the control of the Turkish military.

Article written by LGR

Energy plans in block 11 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) are going ahead without any problems, the Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides has said, noting at the same that Cyprus is approaching the issue by showing seriousness, remaining calm and using few words.

Christodoulides was speaking to the press following today’s meeting of the National Council held at the Presidential Palace.

Asked about Turkey`s new Navtex that affects the Cyprus’ EEZ, he said that this is Ankara`s favourite tactic which has been repeated since 2011 when hydrocarbon activities within Cyprus’ EEZ began.

He said that “immediately after the issuance of the directive to seafarers we proceeded to issue a directive to cancel what Turkey was attempting to do while at the same time we have already taken action at the diplomatic level.”

He said that “we continue to have the same approach. We will not do the favour to Turkey to create a crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean at a public level”, adding that there is no such a thing.

On 26/6 the Republic of Cyprus issued a directive to seafarers (NAVTEX 240/17), saying that drilling operation will be conducted in an area bounded by the drilling ship “West Capella”, from the 10th of July 2017 until 15th of October 2017.

The rights on Block 11 were assigned by the Republic of Cyprus to Total back in 2013 at the conclusion of the second international bid round held by the country. Total decided to extend the lease of Block 11, re-evaluating its geophysical model in view of the discovery of Egypt’s giant Zohr field only about 6km away from the boundary of Block 11.

Article written by CNA

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus in the first half of 2017 reached a new historic record, on the backdrop of a record year in 2016, according to data released on Monday by the Statistical Service (Cystat)

Arrivals for the period of January – June reached 1,463,206 marking an increase of 16.6% compared with the respective period of 2016.
“This figure outnumbered the total arrivals ever recorded in Cyprus in the first six months of the year,” Cystat said. In 2016 tourist arrivals reached a new all-time record reaching 3.2 million tourist arrivals.

June 2017 arrivals reached 472,450 up by 14.4% compared with June 2016. Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) said in a press release that June saw the second highest tourist arrivals following July 2016.

“Another month with high levels of tourist arrivals is added to the current successful tourist season in Cyprus,” CTO said, adding tourist arrivals from all of Cyprus’ main tourist markets contributed to the new increase.

The new rise in arrivals is broad-based with most markets recording increases in tourist arrivals.

Arrivals from the UK, Cyprus main tourist market, increased by 1.2% in June (9.7% in the first half), whereas arrivals from Russia accelerated by 2.1% in June (11.3% in the first six months).

Arrivals from Israel increased by 88.7% in June (up by 81.1% in the first half), with arrivals from Germany registering an increase of 93.1% in June (up by 53.2% in the first half). The Swedish market posted an increase of 25.4%.

On the other hand, arrivals from Ukraine declined by 27.5% in June, followed by France with 19.3%.

Article written by CNA