London Greek Radio

British Cypriots once again demonstrated in great numbers at the annual ”Rally for Cyprus” in central London on Saturday 16 July, calling upon Turkey to end the 42-year long occupation of the northern part of the island.

The demonstrators gathered outside Turkey’s embassy, where a delegation of the rally’s organisers, the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, led by its President Christos Karaolis delivered a resolution addressed to the Turkish Ambassador.

The resolution condemned the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and the ”unlawful and unjust military occupation and colonisation” of the northern part of Cyprus. ”Turkey must now change its intransigent stance on Cyprus and respond with positive actions to encourage progress in the direct negotiations taking place on the island towards a just and lasting settlement,” read the resolution text.

Speaking in front of the Turkish embassy, Mr Karaolis said: ”For 42 years Turkey occupies the northern part of Cyprus. We are here once again to send a message to the Turkish Ambassador and to Turkey, that enough is enough; now is the time for real deeds and not words to resolve to Cyprus issue.”

The Rally outside the embassy was followed by the annual march through central London, with the demonstrators holding Cypriot flags, banners and pickets and calling for a ”Free, United, Cyprus” and for ”Turkish troops to be removed from Cyprus”. GLA Member Andrew Dismore, Cypriot MEP Mr Takis Hadjigeorgiou and the Mayor of the occupied Town of Lapithos Mr. Neoptolemos Kotsapas also joined British Cypriots for the Rally.

Before this year’s Rally, 10,000 leaflets explaining the rights and demands of Cyprus were distributed at 15 central London locations with additional leaflets also distributed during the march.

Following the Rally, a delegation including Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, representatives of the Cypriot Women’s League, the leadership of the Federation, the Cyprus High Commissioner, H.E. Evripides Evriviades, and Greek Ambassador H.E. Konstantinos Bikas, laid a ‘Cyprus’ wreath at the Cenotaph.

Then the Federation President Mr Karaolis handed a letter addressed to the new Prime Minister of the UK Theresa May at the entrance of Downing Street. He was accompanied by the leadership of the Federation as well as the north London Conservative MP and long-standing friend of Cyprus Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers. Mr Karaolis said that the letter congratulated Theresa May on her appointment and urged her ”to make sure that the Cyprus issue would be kept high on the political agenda of the UK.” As the letter to Mrs May pointed out, “you have the power to make a lasting difference in relation to Cyprus and now is the time to exercise this proactively and constructively.”

Theresa Villiers said: ”I have been campaigning for the freedom of Cyprus for 17 years. It is a great tragedy that Cyprus remains divided and I believe that it is crucial to keep on working hard for a negotiated settlement. We have a new Prime Minister in Britain, a whole new Government and a new Foreign Secretary and I will do whatever I can to make sure that Cyprus is high on their agenda. It is important to support the Cypriots to reach a lasting, balanced and just settlement to reunify the island and bring all of its people together once again.”

The President of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots Andreas Papaevripides pledge on behalf of Cypriots abroad to keep fighting for Cyprus no matter how many years have passed – especially in the UK where the largest Cypriot overseas community lives. ”We will fight more than ever so that our positions are made known to the new UK Government,” he added.

Also at the rally were Federation officers and members of its Executive Bambos Charalambous (Federation Vice-President), Michael Kashis (Federation Vice-President), George Adonis (Federation Vice-President), Ninos Koumettou (Treasurer), Neophytos Nicolaou (General Secretary), Marios Minaides (President, Greek Orthodox Communities of the UK), Antonia Savvides (President, NEPOMAK), Michael Ellinas, Suzy Constantinides (Chair, Organising Committee), Menicos Kouvaros, Tony Vouros and veteran Executive Secretary Andreas Karaolis.

The Greek-Cypriot press core in London hosted a dinner on Monday in honour of his Excellency Konstantinos Bikas (pictured below), Ambassador of Greece in the UK, who after four years of successful service in Britain will depart in a few days to his new post in Tel-Aviv.

Cyprus High Commissioner Euripides Evriviades also attended the function.

Left to Right-Standing: Doros Partasides (RIK),Mary Afxentiou(Parikiaki),Thanasis Gavos (RIK,CNA,SKAI), Michael Yakoumi (Parikiaki), Panagiotis Charalampous (LGR), Jan Manoulides (Distinguished Lawyer) – Seating: John Kyriakides (Executive Director-LGR), Evdoxia Lymperi (ERT), Euripides Evriviades (Cyprus High Commissioner), Konstantinos Bikas (Ambassador of Greece), Kyriakos Tsioupras (Veteran Journalist), Isaac Karypides (Ant1,Astra)

Andreas Leontas a Cypriot finalist walked away as the winner at this year’s X Factor Greek Final which aired on July 8^th on Skai channel, which after some years rebooted the franchise for the talent format airing to the Greek public.

In the final which went on for 5-hours third place went to Stereo Soul and then we were left with the last two acts.

Giorgos Theofanous, the X Factor judge, was very buoyant with his two male acts being left in the competition.

The sing-off gave us our finalists Ian Stratis and Andreas Leontas, who gave us their song performances on the night.

Leontas, a Cypriot singer/song-writer born in Nicosia, who eventually piped his rival to the title, performed the song ‘Theos An Einai’. He beat off fellow finalist and subsequent runner-up Stratis who gave us his live version of the song ‘Gorilla’.

He won a record contract which resulted in him signing up to FeelGood Records and was given a car to drive away.

#XFactorGR has been a big part of the Greek television schedule every Friday night since the re-boot series was re-launched in February.

The host Sakis Rouvas again was a returnee, to the franchise.

The long-time judge, Cypriot song-writer Theofanous along with Peggy Zina, Tamta and Onirama lead-vocalist Thodoris Marantinis completed the judging panel line-up.

Backstage hosting was by Evaggelia Aravani.

We all at LGR wish him well and can’t wait to get our hands on his first single! A little teaser reveals his debut song, a definitely up-tempo Pop Laiko, called ‘Protos Rolos’.

Once we have it you’ll be certainly amongst the first to hear it on the LGR air-waves.

Ronin

On Sunday 17th July, fighter Giannis Skordilis, also known as GREEKBOY, will be fighting Alex Bublea in an intense kickboxing match the 02 Arena.

When speaking about the event, Giannis was keen to discuss his Greek background: “I am very proud of the fact that I get to represent the great country that is Greece in every way shape and form possible with respect, honour and strength in and outside the ring.”

During his Amateur fight career Giannis competed in more than 25 fights at national Greek level in which (5 years in a row) he won 1st place.

Since then Giannis left Greece and now trains at Storm Gym in Luton, the home of multiple world champion Andrew King Cobra Tate.

With the help of Chief Instructor Master Amir Subasic, Giannis won his first amateur fight which he says changed his life for ever.

Giannis recalls these years: “Of course many believe Greekboy happened over night but that was not my first fight name lol… it was feta cheese!”

He continues to talk about the start of his career: “On the 16th May 2015 I had my first professional fight in the UK on the biggest show in the country in the last at least 10 years or so and that at the prestigious Wembley Arena and SuperFight Series Championships. I won against a very talented Polish fighter in an amazing display of new skills that I learned at Storm Gym”.

Giannis has since continued his impressive career and between October 2015 to June 2016 he won another British Greek National Title and two European Titles at two different weight divisions. Giannis next outing will be at the 02 Indigo Arena on Sunday 17th of July. For tickets click here.

President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has once again apologized on behalf of the state for everything it should have done but failed to do so, to prevent the death of 13 people five years ago during a massive explosion at the naval base “Evangelos Florakis”, at Mari, on the southern coast.

The huge blast occurred on 11 July 2011 when a number of containers, full of munitions, which Cyprus had confiscated from “Monchegorsk“, a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009 exploded. As a result of the explosion and the shock wave that followed, the nearby Vassiliko power station suffered extensive damage that led to power cuts for some time after the blast.

More than 60 people were injured during the explosion.

Speaking at a memorial event at Mari, President Anastasiades assured the state will not allow similar mistakes to occur once again.

The President said that five years after the terrible disaster at Mari “we set aside our daily routine” as “today is a day for those who have positions of responsibility on this island, to reflect on how we were led to this tragedy”.

The conclusion, he added, is that “during this tragedy we lost 13 people, 13 professionals, heroes while the state exhibited unprecedented inadequacy and committed a number of repeated mistakes. Once again, we see that the worst decision is one that you put off because you are afraid to assume responsibility”, the President said.

Expressing respect for those who died, the President apologized for “everything that we ought to have done as a state and we did not” and assured that “we will not allow again such mistakes to be repeated and our country to witness similar tragedies”.

President Anastasiades said “accountability and professionalism should constitute the fundamental conditions on which a state operates on” and in this direction “we need to work towards a state that is responsible and maintains risk prevention policies at all levels”.

Remembering the youth of the National Guard, the members of the Fire and EMAK force who died while on duty, the President said “we share the pain and sorrow of the parents, spouses, children, siblings of those who tragically died bearing on their shoulders the political and administrative responsibilities of others”.

He said the chapel that the state has erected in the area is a reminder of the obligation of the state to honour those who sacrificed their lives. The chapel`s construction was funded by the Ministry of Finance and the Church of Cyprus designed the plans. Earlier, a memorial service was held for the victims of the disaster.

Nothing can alleviate the lack of their physical presence, said the President, but hoped that “this sacred site will become a spiritual relief for the relatives”.

Declaring the 13 men heroes, the President said the state has decided to provide support on a regular basis, to the spouses, parents and children of the deceased and injured of the 11th July 2011 explosion.

He also said that the Cabinet has decided to set up a committee that will monitor the problems that the relatives of the victims of the Mari explosion face.

Outside the chapel, a column with the names of the victims was placed as well as 13 individual crosses.

In the years that followed the blast, six persons, including two Ministers, were brought to justice. Four, including the then Minister of Defence, were given jail sentences in connection with the explosion on charges of causing death due to unreasonable or dangerous acts. The Minister of Defence was also found guilty of manslaughter due to neglect. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs was acquitted.

Morphou “is not and will never become a bargaining chip” says the Mayor of the Turkish-occupied city, Charalambos Pittas, in reply to statements from the Turkish Cypriot side.

St Mamas Church Morphou

Hüseyin Özgürgün, the self-styled “prime minister” of the illegal regime in the island`s Turkish-occupied north, has said recently that the return of Morphou is not on the table.

In a statement, Pittas condemned Özgürgün`s “arrogant behavior and the unacceptable provocative statements”, noting that they put in peril the ongoing effort for a Cyprus settlement and the country`s reunification.

He says, moreover that people from Morphou will in no case abandon their inalienable right to return to their homeland. Morphou is not property of Özgürgün but the lands are illegally held by force of arms, the Mayor adds.

The fait accomplis, following the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, give no right over our land to Özgürgün, to Mustafa Akinci`s illegal regime and to Ankara, Pittas says.

It is also noted that the Municipal Council of Morphou has unanimously decided to bestow honorary citizenship upon the President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, handing over to him the key to the city during an event on Monday, July 11, 2016.

A joint declaration by three Cypriot overseas organisations in the UK urges the leaderships of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities in the island to work for a quick solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem.

The Enfield Cypriots Association, the Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy and the Union of Cypriots in Britain state their encouragement by the continuation of the intercommunal talks between the leaders of the two communities under the auspices of the UN and “urge both of them to work harder aiming to reach an acceptable solution as quickly as possible as the passing of time only complicates things further”.

The declaration states that the message of both communities is “loud and clear: the overwhelming majority of the Cypriot people are looking forward to a peaceful solution to re-unify our country. We do not accept the continuation of the status-quo or the partition of our country`.

“We call upon the leaders of both communities and remind them of their responsibilities including during the intercommunal talks to cultivate policies and actions against the resurgence of nationalism-chauvinism and intolerance`.

Referring to the settlement itself, the three organisations note that a reunification agreement should include the “complete demilitarisation on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal basis with political equality as set out by the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council; a solution that will safeguard a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, as well as the respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the citizens of the united Republic of Cyprus”.

The joint declaration was handed out to visitors of the recent Wine Festival in north London and has also been sent to both leaders, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

This EU summit was one of the most productive meetings the EU has had, as far as the discussions among the member states are concerned, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said here today, departing from the European Council building after the informal meeting of 27 EU leaders without British PM David Cameron.

President Anastasiades

“It was one of the most productive meetings we had as the EU. And creative. And I am talking about our discussions. Everyone was worried about the current situation in Europe: Euroscepticism, nationalist movements and other causes,” said the President of the Republic.

He said the EU heads of state discussed “the need for the new British government to notify the EU at the earliest possible, so as not to prolong the uncertainty, which creates multiple problems.”

“More importantly, however, as a result of the decision of the British people, we reflected on the actions that need to be undertaken, so that finally the people feel that Europe is theirs and not something remote or foreign to own their country,” he added.

Asked whether any specific decisions have been taken, President Anastasiadis replied that “a joint statement will be released and then there will be a specific plan in order to have what we call more Europe, or more effective European policies”

Efforts to put out a huge blaze which broke out on Sunday and destroyed large areas of a Cypriot forest in the mountainous Solea region of Nicosia District and has so far claimed the lives of two firefighters were renewed on Wednesday morning.

The ongoing effort takes place on the ground and by air.

A meeting has been underway this morning at the coordinating centre which has been set up in Galata village with the participation of Ministers of Justice and Public Order Ionas Nicolaou and Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Nicos Kouyialis, as well as Deputy Chief of Police Kypros Michaelides.

Apart from a number of Greek and Israeli firefighting and support aircraft already taking part in operations the effort is also joined today by the two firefighting Canadair 415 aircraft and one light support aircraft which arrived in Paphos yesterday from France.

In the meantime, the Department of Forests has issued through twitter an urgent call for volunteers. Those able and interested to help can contact the department on 22608535.

Cyprus High Commissioner Euripides Evriviades urged Cypriots living in the UK to vote in the upcoming EU referendum in June 23.

Euripides Evriviades

Through his twitter account Mr. Evriviades stated that all Cypriots who live in the UK can vote in the referendum if they register by 7 June through a simple online procedure in the following link https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. The Cypriot High Commissioner called for the EU to remain strong and united.

According to the electoral procedure, all Cypriots living in the UK are eligible to vote since they are Commonwealth citizens.

During a recent official visit in the UK, Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides stated that a possible Brexit is not in the interest of Cyprus.    

“I believe that it is not in the interest of Cyprus for the UK to leave the EU for many reasons, mainly financial but other ones as well. It is neither in the interest of the Commonwealth to have a Brexit, because the Commonwealth benefits from the British presence in the EU, as the UK is in the forefront of policies such as tackling climate change, pursuing sustainable growth etc. Therefore, I call upon our compatriots in the UK to seriously support the UK remaining in the EU. The European Union which is facing so many challenges must be reinforced and not weakened by exits,” Mr. Kasoulides said.