National Federation of Cypriots in the UK
Working for a Free, United Cyprus

The President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom, Peter Droussiotis, today urged all UK Cypriots and friends of Cyprus to show the strength of their collective commitment to a free, united Cyprus to the new Prime Minister, David Cameron, and their opposition to Turkey’s military occupation of the island’s northern part, by joining a picket, march and rally in London on Sunday 18th July 2010.

Newly elected members joined stalwart friends of Cyprus in Parliament last night, committing themselves to the cause of reunifying the island.

At an annual event organised by the National Federation of Cypriots in the Palace of Westminster, Parliamentarians addressed members of the Cypriot community and later took questions from the audience, in what amounted to a positive demonstration that political will and commitment among new MPs is strong.

The forthcoming UK General Election on 6th May 2010 represents a unique opportunity for UK Cypriots to exercise their democratic right and to vote for the party and parliamentary candidates of their choice. We urge all Cypriots in the United Kingdom registered and eligible to vote in the General Election to do so.

Importantly for UK Cypriots, this election comes at a sensitive time for negotiations in Cyprus aimed at ridding the island of Turkey's military occupation and reuniting the country as a federal state with one sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship within the European Union. The UK is a Guarantor Power of the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and has important responsibilities by virtue of that role, as well as through its permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council and as a leading member of the European Union and the Commonwealth, not to mention the responsibility of all states to uphold international law and human rights.

The Election is an opportunity for British Cypriots to raise the Cyprus problem's profile on the political agenda of this country. For this brief period in the electoral cycle, all political parties will be seeking our views.  The remaining days before polling are our chance to highlight the Cyprus problem repeatedly to those people who seek to represent us over the coming years and to seek to make it a priority on the foreign policy agenda of the new UK government which will emerge after the election.  This is even more important at a time when so many new MPs are likely to be elected. We have a responsibility as a community to make candidates from all parties aware of the plight of Cyprus and Britain's historic responsibilities to the island and its people.

This election is also an opportunity for UK Cypriots to support Members of Parliament from all parties who are seeking re-election and who have a proven track record of working with us and supporting and promoting the cause of a reunited Cyprus in Parliament. We urge British Cypriots to vote for such candidates on 6th May 2010.

In conclusion, we call upon all British Cypriots to use the remaining critical period before polling day to inform, discuss with and lobby the people who seek our votes.

“Turkey knows that it is not going to be a member of the European Union if the situation in Cyprus is not resolved. So it is absolutely in its interests for it to be resolved” said Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Europe, following a meeting with Cyprus Government Spokesman, Mr Stefanos Stefanou, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today.