Cypriots lobby British MPs to increase British pressure on Turkey - 2011
Channel: grokked
Date: 2011-07-13

President of the National Federation of Cypriot Organisations in the UK  Peter Droussiotis provides in introduction recorded outside the Palace of Westminster on 12th July 2011 during events to mark the 37th year since the Greek junta coup against Archbishop Makarios which provided a pretext for Turkey to invade Cyprus on 20th July 1974. Although the Greek military junta collapsed as a result of the invasion Turkey proceeded to occupy 37% of the island which it continues to occupy with its Turkish army and the continuing flow of 'mainland settlers' who now outnumber indigenous Turkish Cypriots by at least 2 to 1. 2011 has seen some massive  demonstrations by the Turkish Cypriots themselves protesting Turkey's policies in Cyprus (see videos on this profile at http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=03D551DA64E92CD0 ) , but Turkey still seeks 'recognition' of the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" which it created following its invasion of the island, despite the fact that no country other than Turkey has recognised the secessionist entity. With the Republic of Cyprus being due to take on the Presidency of the EU during July 2012,  the talks continue between the President of Cyprus Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu, and despite the involvement of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in the negotiation process, the talks have made very little progress. This video provides and opening statement by Federation President Peter Droussiotis and also comments by a number of British MPs providing their analysis of the current situation in Cyprus and of Turkey's continued intransigence and continuing refusal to adhere to UN and Council of Europe and European Union demands that foreign troops should be withdrawn along with the Turkish mainland settlers. Raising the profile of efforts to solve the Cyprus problem by calling on Britain to use its influence directly with Turkey as well as with the US Government to increase pressure on Turkey for it to comply with international demands to settle the Cyprus problem and provide humanitarian information on the fate of missing Cypriots is a frequently repeated demand during such lobbying activities.

The interview of Peter Drousiotis in Greek at the end of this video was by Hellenic TV and the journalist Yiannis Ioannou. Their coverage (including some interviews in English) of the Cypriot Lobby event can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO-6yNk0OZ0

Demonstration and March - Rally for Cyprus 2011 - P1of3
http://youtu.be/Gi0x3aXBjcY

Rally for Cyprus 2011 - P2 Rally English extracts
http://youtu.be/m3YvhlOeuW0

Rally for Cyprus 2011 - P3 Rally Greek extracts 
http://youtu.be/jrcBx4KXCpA

Cyprus Week 2011 Events Playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAD45D431FD4F335


See details of Cypriot Lobbies at the Palace of Westminster for previous years in the video section at the website of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK at http://www.cypriotfederation.org/ .

Videos of other activities within the context of Cyprus Week events 2011 (and past years) are available at the following profile:
http://www.youtube.com/theatrotechnis

Video recording and other recordings of Cyprus-related material (mostly in English) by:
http://www.youtube.com/grokked/

See also, a considerable Cyprus-related archive at:
http://www.livestream.com/turkish_troops_out_of_cyprus