Cyprus

The President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom, Peter Droussiotis, is this week calling on UK Cypriots and friends of Cyprus to demonstrate their collective commitment to a free, united Cyprus. Mr Droussiotis is urging British Cypriots and friends of the island to remind Prime Minister David Cameron of the strength of opposition to Turkey’s continuing military occupation of Cyprus’s northern part, by joining a picket, march and rally in London on Sunday 17th July 2011.




The annual rally, organised by the Federation to mark Turkey’s military invasion of Cyprus in July 1974, is the biggest opportunity for the UK Cypriot community and friends of Cyprus to voice their feelings on the tragic and scandalous division which still plagues the island 37 years after the Turkish army invaded and occupied its northern territory.

nick venedi



Mr Droussiotis called for a renewed effort by UK Cypriots, saying:



“It is as important as ever that we demonstrate our support for a free and united Cyprus, as well as our opposition to the illegal Turkish military occupation. A solution is eminently achievable if the international community puts pressure on Turkey and encourages the right environment for a settlement. And our Government in the United Kingdom must be made aware that our community in this country will not give up on Cyprus.



“The ongoing dialogue on the island must not be allowed to break down on account of Turkish intransigence. The United Kingdom has particular obligations to Cyprus, as a Guarantor Power of the island’s independence and territorial integrity, to use its influence over Turkey to ensure that the latter works genuinely for a just and lasting settlement. Turkey must no longer block progress and that message must get through to Ankara. The Cypriot community in the UK must remind the British Government of its special responsibilities to Cyprus.”



Sunday’s actions will begin with picketing outside the Turkish Embassy in Belgrave Square from 3.00pm where a letter of protest addressed to the Turkish ambassador will be posted at the Turkish embassy. This will be followed by a march through central London to Trafalgar Square where a rally will be held at 4.30pm. A Federation delegation will hand in a petition to the British Prime Minster at 10 Downing Street immediately before the rally.



The main speaker at the event will be Cyprus Government Spokesman Mr Stefanos Stefanou. Numerous British Parliamentarians and MEPs will join Mr Droussiotis, as well as representatives of Cypriot refugee organisations and occupied municipalities in Cyprus, on the platform in Trafalgar Square to show their solidarity with the Cyprus cause.



ENDS

b sky b

Well didn't take much of an interest in this take over before and why should I? But it now looks like Vince Cable was right. It is not healthy for a democratic country to allow for one individual to gain control over a large section of the media especially if what he or they take over can be influenced by their politics? This can't be right?

nick venedi

domestic abuse

is still the case that most murder victims are killed by someone they know and more often than not by someone who lives with them or they know quite well. That has not changed.




But very little is done to help women who are often the victims of violent and abusive husbands or boyfriends. The police will rarely act when given information and they will more often than not wait until some major incident takes place. This is, more often than not, very late.



It would appear that even though we have matured and have moved on in many ways as a society our sophistication has not changed attitudes towards women in abusive relationships and I think much more needs to be done to change that balance.


http://www.womensaid.org.uk/?gclid=CMvtr_219qkCFdkz3wodfHPZaw
 
nick venedi

freedom of the press

A friend pointed out last night that the News of the World has been in business for 164 years so, according to him, it was sad that it has been closed down. I can understand why someone can feel sentimental about the death of a paper (I wouldn't call it newspaper) and I also feel that the proprietor is killing the journal to deflect the real issue in question.


Glad of course that the people who work for NOTW will be found other jobs and I hope they will be protected. The fact is that some news organisations have gone beyond what is sensible journalism and have abused the right of expression. A new law which ensures that ordinary people are not subjected to abuse is introduced quickly but at the same time we must not censor real and true stories.
 
nick venedi

freedom of expression

We are all for having freedom of expression and indeed that is why and how some of us are able to write blogs such as this one, but the freedom comes also with the obligation to act in a responsible way and not to use methods that are wrong or unacceptable to get information.




It is good that the paper accused of wrong doings will be closing down but of course those who work there will be effected severely and pay the price once again.
 
nick venedi

euro

I was astonished to hear on Greek television a demand made by the Finland PM who wants Greece and the other country's that are getting the loans from Euro land that they would need to mortgage most of the property owned by the state as a form of a guarantee. The talk in Greece is that the country is slowly losing its independence and there are now questions over sovereighty. I do not think for a single minute that the Greek state does not need to implement reforms to improve systems for tax collection etc but at the same time it is not right that the country is now been told what to do? Is this what European Federalism means? And do the measures involve the poorest members of society having to pay for the mistakes? This cant be right?

D Prentis speech

I reproduce below the statement from our General Secretary Dave Prentis on the NHS.




'Our National Health Service celebrates its 63rd birthday this week. It is one of our greatest achievements that has saved the lives and stopped the suffering of countless millions, regardless of their ability to pay.



We celebrate, too, this week the men and women who worked tirelessly from the very start to make the NHS what it is today.



But our NHS faces its greatest challenge yet. This coalition government’s Health and Social Care Bill still poses the serious threat of privatisation and a return to the bad old days of queue-jumping by those who can afford to pay.



So, in celebrating 63 years of a great success story, remember we have to do everything in our power to defend it from attack. '