NEWS

Substantive discussion on a joint document with the positions of both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side on the criteria for territorial adjustments begins on Thursday morning in Mont-Pelerin, Switzerland, where Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci as well as their negotiating teams meet since Monday to discuss territory and all other outstanding issues interdependently.

Mont-Pelerin/Switzerland

Mont-Pelerin/Switzerland

The two sides’ negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami, exchanged on Wednesday afternoon documents with the positions of each side on the territory criteria. The two leaders, who began discussing the criteria on Wednesday morning, met later in the afternoon and as Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides announced last night, it was decided that the positions of each side are written down in a single document, as happened with all aspects of the Cyprus problem.

According to the Spokesman the positions of the Greek Cypriot side will be written down in blue colour and those of the Turkish Cypriot side in red colour.

Christodoulides said that on Thursday morning substantive discussion begins on the basis of this document, adding that the aim is to reach an agreement on the criteria that will be used in order to draw a map.

Asked if there is enough time until Friday, when the talks are scheduled to conclude, to achieve progress, the spokesman said that if there is the necessary will at the negotiating table then there is sufficient time.

Responding to another question, the spokesman said that discussions in Switzerland are not the end of the road. Asked about the setting of a date for a multilateral conference, he said that President Anastasiades was clear on this issue during his televised press conference before going to Switzerland, reiterating that there must be an agreement on the criteria that will then be used in order to draw a map.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof. Discussions in Mont Pelerin will continue until the 11th of November.


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On Saturday 29th October, we had the pleasure of welcoming Giorgos Papadopoulos to the LGR airwaves for an interview with radio presenter, Paris Tsoulfas.

Giorgos Papadopoulos is a singer of Greek Cypriot origin.  After three successful EPs he released his first album and has since gained huge popularity and following in Cyprus, Greece & the UK. Whilst we all know Papadopoulos as a talented singer, he is also a songwriter and has written songs for many popular Greek artists, including Helena Paparizou, Giorgos Mazonakis, Tamta, Kostas Martakis, Panos Kiamos, Kaiti Garbi, Melina Aslanidou and Notis Sfakianakis to name a few.

To listen to the interview, which includes chat about Papadopoulos latest song, “Oloi Mou Lene” and talk of recent collaborations with Natasa Theodoridou and Melina Aslanidou, listen below:


Article written by London Greek Radio

The destruction of Cyprus’ cultural heritage in the northern Turkish occupied part of the island was highlighted by the Conservative north London MPs Matthew Offord and David Burrowes during a House of Commons debate earlier in the week.

cna_cyprus-culture

Their statements were made in the presence of the Secretary of State for Culture Karen Bradley during the second reading of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) bill. The aim of the bill is to enable the United Kingdom to implement the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954.

Offord said that “Cyprus has witnessed its cultural and religious heritage fall prey to the policy of pillage, destruction and desecration instituted after the illegal invasion of the island in 1974, and during the subsequent and continuing occupation.”
The Hendon MP, one of the closest parliamentarian friends of Cyprus in the UK, spoke of churches, monasteries, archaeological sites, libraries, museums and private collections of religious art and antiquities in the occupied areas of Cyprus having been “systematically looted”.

He also pointed to the numerous antiquities from the northern part of Cyprus that have for years “flooded” the art treasure market of the world, as well as to removed mosaics, frescoes and thousands of icons, which are now “practically lost in the international market of smuggled art works.”

Offord made a special reference to the apsidal mosaic of “inestimable” value at the Panagia Kanakaria church, which was removed, stolen and broken up in 1979. After pieces reemerged in 1988 and the involvement of the notorious Turkish art dealer Aydin Dikmen was established, these pieces have now been returned and are exhibited at the Byzantine Museum in Nicosia.

The Conservative MP told the House that since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus 77 churches have been converted into mosques after being stripped of all icons and church furnishings. “The others have been pillaged, destroyed, used as stables, warehouses, garages, arsenals, mortuaries, hotels, art galleries and night clubs or simply abandoned to their fate… That number, however, does not include 50 sacred buildings whose condition is still not known because they are located in zones under direct military control, and others that have been demolished,” said Matthew Offord.

The MP also congratulated his constituent Doros Partasides, a well-known UK Cypriot photographer whose work has documented churches on the island. As Mr Offord said, “his invaluable work documents the destruction that has occurred over many years”. An exhibition with these photographs by Mr Partasides was hosted in the Parliament a few years ago.

In his contribution to the debate David Burrowes, MP for the Enfield-Southgate constituency with the most populous Cypriot community in the UK, said that along with Mr Offord he has seen the “appalling” acts of desecration and pillaging that have taken place in the northern part of Cyprus.

Burrowes said there was a link between the trafficking of human beings and the trafficking of cultural property. “There is the same disregard for people, for their faith, for their community and for their identity,” he said, adding that the issue at hand was human dignity.

He called for the UK to contribute to the voluntary fund administered by UNESCO and praised the work done by Tasoula Hadjitofi, a refugee from Famagusta, who through her organisation ‘Walk of Truth’ tries to restore pillaged treasures in areas of conflict and provide routes to reconciliation.

In his closing remarks, David Burrowes MP referred to his numerous constituents of Cypriot descent: “A considerable number of Cypriots live here in the UK, who have seen for themselves wanton destruction and pillaging of their heritage. That is why it is so important that we join together and make sure that this long-fought battle to ratify The Hague convention comes to fruition. We look forward to the unification of Cyprus in the long term, but in the meantime, we must make sure that people are held to account when they seek to profit from the proceeds of crimes of destruction.”


Article written by CNA

On Friday 28th October, London Greek Radio had the pleasure of welcoming Peggy Zina to the airwaves for an exclusive interview with our radio presenter Panagiotis Balalas.

Peggy made her recording debut in 1995 with her self-titled album. She has since released twelve studio albums and is a high-profile artist in the Greek music industry. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Zina the 24th top-certified female artist in the nation’s phonographic era (since 1960), totalling nine (five at the time) platinum and two gold records.

For those who missed the interview, you can listen to it below:


Article written by London Greek Radio
Audio Player

 

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Article written by London Greek Radio

Greece, Cyprus and communities from both nations around the worldare celebrating ‘Oxi Day’ today, October 28, which commemorates the rejection by Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas to the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on this day in 1940.

Student Parade in Athens

Student Parade in Athens

76 years ago, Greece staged a counter-attack against the invading Italian forces on the Pindus mountains during the Greco-Italian War, and the Greek Resistance during the Axis occupation.

 

This ultimatum was presented to Metaxas by Italy’s Ambassador to Greece, Emanuele Grazzi, shortly after 3am, who had just come from a party at the Athens-based German Embassy.

It demanded that Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspecified “strategic locations” or otherwise face war.

 

It was allegedly answered with a single laconic word: όχι (No!). However, it is rumoured that his actual reply was, “Alors, c’est la guerre!” (Then it is war!).

 

In response to Metaxas’s refusal, Italian troops stationed in Albania, then an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border at 5:30am—the beginning of Greece’s participation in World War II.

In response Greek citizens took to the streets, irrespective of political affiliation, shouting “όχι! (No!)”.

 

MILITARY, STUDENT PARADES

From 1942, it was celebrated as ‘Oxi Day’ first mostly among members of the resistance and after the war by all Greeks.

 

During the war, October 28 was commemorated yearly by Greek communities around the world and in Greece and Cyprus, and after World War II it became a public holiday in both countries.

The events on that day are commemorated every year with military and student parades. On every anniversary, most public buildings and residences are decorated with Greek flags.


Article written by Sigmalive

The Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has renewed his promise to work from the opposition in order to help bring about a settlement to the Cyprus issue and also press the UK Government to fulfil its obligations as a guarantor power towards the island.

From Left to Right: Vasilis Panayi (LGR presenter) - Cyprus High Commissioner Evripides Evryviades - Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn- Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry

From Left to Right: Vasilis Panayi (LGR presenter) – Cyprus High Commissioner to the UK Evripides Evryviades – Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn – Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry – Famagusta Association President Vassilis Mavrou

Attending a Famagusta Association of Great Britain dinner in north London on Sunday evening, the leader of the major opposition said: “We ’ve had the invasion, we ‘ve had the loss of life, the destruction, the partition, we ‘ve had the loss of property and the refusal of the refugees’ right to return. The Annan plan was rejected because it didn’t cover the requirements of the Cypriot people as a whole; it has to be rethought and a new plan has to be put together. It won’t work unless it is accepted by everybody and this has to be the basis on which the new plan will develop and that’s what we will be working on in opposition and hopefully in government.”

Corbyn added that there are now two tasks ahead: to politically push as hard as possible for a deepening of the dialogue between the communities in Cyprus in order to achieve a settlement that enables people to return to their homes and the “disgrace” of what’s happened to Famagusta to be righted; and also to ensure that the British government takes its responsibility towards Cyprus very seriously.

“When a country takes up a responsibility of guarantor of independence as Britain did in 1960, that is a very serious long term responsibility. We recognise that, we understand that. I want a government that bases its foreign policy on peace, on justice, on human rights, on international law… That means accepting our responsibilities, that means ensuring there is a peaceful solution to the conflicts, bringing people together and also recognising the deep injustices that were done in 1974, when that invasion took place. And if that means a difficult relationship with some big powers in order to assert our determination to uphold the rule of law and human rights, then so be it,” said Jeremy Corbyn.

He also praised the “incredible” contribution of the UK Cypriot community to London and the British society, commenting that they should feel proud of what they have been doing for Cyprus and their adopted country.

Corbyn was accompanied by his wife and other members of his family, as well as the Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry. In her short address she referred to her personal relation to Cyprus, where her father lived for many years after first visiting the island as a UN peacekeeper.

She described her experience of visiting Famagusta and Varosha, where she saw a town frozen in time, fenced off from the rest of the world after the Turks “invaded”, and left to “rot” ever since. Thornberry said she understood how people feel strongly about Famagusta and that there must be a settlement for the future of Cyprus and one that properly looks at what happens with the town.

“We can never undo the injustice done to Cyprus and its people, who still live with that injustice today…  But we can hope that the new generation brought up in the beautiful island of Cyprus will not have to live with the division and the injustice; we can hope that given the leadership shown by President Anastasiades they will grow up in peace and security in a united and democratic Cyprus, where we can lay to rest the grievances of the past, but we must make proper reparation for the injustices of that past, including the injustices done to the families of Famagusta,” said Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary.

“Jeremy and I will continue to support that process and we will uphold the position of the UK as a protector of peace and the guarantor of the independence of Cyprus and will continue to stand with you in the pursuit of justice,” she added.

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to the UK Euripides Evriviades thanked Corbyn for his long-standing support of Cyprus and he also praised the UK-Cypriot community, describing its members as the “true ambassadors” of Cyprus.

He noted that Famagustians and Cypriots only ask for Famagusta to return to its rightful owners and for “the sun of freedom, of justice and human rights to shine across all of Cyprus and all Cypriots”.

As he commented, “all Cypriots, irrespective of their background, are not children of a lesser God” and they want “nothing more and nothing less than what other freedom-loving people enjoy”, concluding that “what is good for the rest of the 27 EU member countries would certainly be good for the 28th.”.

The Famagusta Association President Vassilis Mavrou called upon the UK Government to adopt a more “proactive” role and to exercise its right as guarantor power in order to “assist in the removal of the illegal military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.” He stressed that the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants would be a confidence building measure that would facilitate a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.


Article written by CNA

Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras said Friday the argument against the continuation of the system of guarantees in Cyprus was met with understanding on the part of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande, during separate meetings they held in Brussels.

Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras

Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras

Speaking after the conclusion of the European Council, Tsipras said that “I discussed the issue with President François Hollande and Angela Merkel, and met absolute understanding”. He went on to say that a viable solution to the problem can not provide for the presence of Turkish troops on the island.

In response to a question by CNA, Tsipras also reiterated the Greek position, that the framework of guarantees in Cyprus is anachronistic and needs to be abolished.

According to the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Greece was one of the guarantor powers in Cyprus, the other two being Turkey and the UK.

The Greek Premier added that he had a positive conversation with the British Prime Minister Theresa May, who told him that her country will not request guarantor rights, if the issue is not raised by other parties.

Speaking on the issue of migration, Tsipras expressed satisfaction over Council conclusions, that target smugglers and aim to substitute illegal flows with legal ones. He was firm, however, on the issue of visa liberalization for Turkish citizens, which he said will happen only through the implementation of all criteria by Ankara, with no exception for any member state, including Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.


Article written by

Pantelis Pantelidis passed away tragically on 18th February 2016 and since his death his fans have not stopped requesting his back-catalogue of tunes on the LGR air-waves. The listeners are making his musical legacy stay alive forever.

Since the 28th June, a wonderful and very emotional tribute song composed and released by Stavros Konstantinou who is a Cypriot singer/song writer -; the zeimbekiko song, and the lyrics are written by Rafail Efstathiou. The track ‘Sta Asteria Ekane Premiere Afieroma Ston Pantelo‘, since the time of writing has bought over 883,888 YouTube hits.

Stavros Konstantinou is not only singing the song, but telling an emotional story, envisioning a scene of Pantelis Pantelidis singing to the angels in Heaven. The lyrics of this song paint a picture of enormous depth and one can almost see and hear him performing his immutable bouzoukia amongst the stars… ‘ekei psila gia panta’ the verses are saying in Heaven… surely the angels have gained a very soulful Laiko singer who will be entertaining and captivating in eternity, and his fans are playing his songs continuously.

The reaction to his songs from our loyal listeners has been extremely positive making this song an instant hit according to the amount of emails posted to the London Greek Radio’s in-box, non-stop phone-calls, tweets and Facebook all obviously agreeing with us about the song being an exceptional, honest and genuine tribute.

I’m sure you have heard it many times before and like myself, cannot hear it enough, and so here I have written the lyrics for you to read. The melody will play in the depth of your heart.

Kleisan apopse oi Aggelou, prwto trapezi pista,
Na akousoun ithelan ki autoi, auton ton neo artista

Gia agapes pou exoune xathei, ergrafe sto xarti tou,
ta logia pou tragoudiaei vgainan ap’ tin psixi tou…

Ena vari Zeimbekiko, ston Xaronta xoreuei
kai me ta xeria anoixta, apo psila mas vlepei…
Giato ki apopse o ‘Arxontas den tha ‘nai sto sanidi,
ton zilepsan oi Aggeloi kai thelan Pantelidi…

H mana tou, tou fonaze: ”Gyrna paidi mou piso”
Tis eipa: Mana den mporw angelous na lipisw

Xwris esena perasan oi mines me akoma,
pote mou den katalava, pws vrethikes sto xoma.


Article written by Tony Neophytou

Hear the songs of the LEGENDS Grigoris Bithikotsis, Yiannis Parios and Stratos Dionysiou sung by their own sons at this exclusive event produced by Prive Productions! Enjoy an evening with the songs and music that form the pillars of Greek music and entertainment today. Join us to sing, dance, drink and celebrate the epic all-time classics that have been sung by these three legends, brought to you by their own flesh and blood – its the next best thing to seeing the legends live – which alas can now never happen. DON’T MISS THIS!

FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER

Regency Banqueting Suite: 113 Bruce Grove, London N17 6UR
Songs Of Our Fathers

Songs Of Our Fathers


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