Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet attended the annual rally in support of Cyprus in Trafalgar Square on Sunday. The event is organised every year by the National Federation of Cypriots to protest against the continuing division of Cyprus and to call for a negotiated settlement to reunite the island. This is the 15th rally Ms Villiers has attended. She has been supporting the rally for Cyprus ever since she was first elected as an MEP in 1999 and continued to attend when she became MP for Chipping Barnet in 2005.
Those taking part in this year’s rally included Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Mike Freer, Charles Tannock, MEP for London, Dr Ian Twinn, former MP for Edmonton, Andreas Papaevripedes, Chairman of the World Federation of Cypriots and Democratic Rally UK, Haris Sophoclides, former chairman of the World Federation of Cypriots, Euripides Evriviades, Cyprus High Commissioner for the UK and Konstanitnos Bikas, Greek Ambassador.
The main speaker was Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Minister for Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism in the Cyprus Government.
Following the rally, Ms Villiers said “It was very sad to be back for yet another year without a solution in Cyprus having been found. It is now almost exactly 40 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus split the island’s community. It is a matter of huge regret that Cyprus remains divided in this way.”
“I have been campaigning for 15 years for a free and united Cyprus. I will continue to do all I can to highlight the plight of Cyprus with the international community. I fully support the efforts made by President Anastasiades to negotiation a settlement.”
“This great injustice has gone on for far too long and I welcomed the opportunity to stand alongside many friends of Cyprus once again to call for freedom for Cyprus.”
“I very much welcome the fact that the Cyprus tragedy was highlighted over the weekend by the Daily Mail which published 25 photos of Famagusta, then and now, by my great friend, Doros Partasides. This is the most extensive coverage of Cyprus for many years by a British newspaper and highlights the strong links between the UK and Cyprus. Though beautifully shot, the photos clearly show the harrowing events of 1974 and the sad and bleak aftermath that has lasted ever since.”
To see the photos click here.