Following a difficult set of election results in north London which saw a number of Greek Cypriot candidates and councillors defeated, Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon, and Nick de Bois, MP for Enfield North, held a meeting in the House of Commons with important figures in the British Cypriot community to discuss their support in future election campaigns. These included Andreas Papaevripides, chairman of the World Federation of Cypriots, Marios Minaides, Chairman of the Greek Orthodox Communities in GB, Antonis Savvides, Andreas Nicolaides, Maria Zavrou, Spyros Neophytou, Amy Yennitsaros, John Kouvaros, Savvas Agathangelou, Alexis Georgiou, Doros Partasides and Andreas Tambourides.
Speaking after the meeting, Theresa Villiers said: “It is very sad that key figures in the Cypriot community like Andreas Tambourides lost their seats in the local elections. He has been a champion for Cyprus and he will be a great loss to Barnet Council as will Barry Evangeli and Joanna Tambourides who also lost their seats.”
“Today’s meeting signals the start of a fight back. I am determined to rebuild support in the wards lost by the Conservatives in my constituency. I welcome the support and help pledged at today’s meeting by leading figures in the British Cypriot community to help me to do that.”
In a separate development, the excellent working relationship between the UK’s Conservative-led government and Cyprus have been highlighted once more in a speech from President Nicos Anastasiades at the British High Commission reception in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday. In his address he welcomed the ties with the UK, which date back to the 12th Century, and publicly thanked Prime Minister David Cameron, for his support during the banking crisis. He paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen and her leadership across the world.
Commenting on the speech, Theresa Villiers said, “I very much welcome the strength of the ties of friendship between Cyprus and the UK’s Conservative led Government. This latest statement by President Anastasiades confirms the excellent working relationship between the two governments, particularly during the banking crisis in Cyprus.”
“This speech follows on from the highly successful visit made by the President to London earlier in the year which saw agreement on an important communique resolving a number of long-standing issues, for example relating to property development on the British Sovereign Bases.”
“I will continue to campaign hard for justice for Cyprus and I am certain my Conservative MP colleagues in north London will do the same.”