The Conservative Friends of Greece group having formally launched earlier in the year, has held it’s first formal event at this years Conservative party conference. The event was hosted by Stephanos Ioannou Chairman of the organisation, with special guest: The Rt. Hon. David Lidington MP and Leader of the House of Commons, as well as Alberto Costa MP, David Burrowes MP, and Andrew Boff GLA member of the London Assembly.

Stephanos Ioannou opened the event by stating that “Now was the time to set up such a group” saying that “Even though the UK has voted to leave the European Union, we have not voted to fail our friendships with individual European nations including Greeks that make up approximately 300,000 here in the UK”. Adding to this mentioned “We are the only political party here in the UK who is reaching out to the Greek community. And with that, can say we are on your side.”

The Rt. Hon. David Lidington, Leader of the House of Commons also said “Today, Britain and Greece are allies in NATO and work together against terrorism and organised crime. The international shipping industry is another important interest that we have in common and Greek expats, entrepreneurs and business people provide jobs and prosperity in London and other British cities.”

Alberto Costa MP Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Greece Parliamentary group also stated that “We stand in solidarity with the Greek people through these difficult times they face. All of us can do our bit to help Greece, whether through buying their products or taking a holiday to an island” and finally stating “I look forward to Chairing the Parliamentary group for CF Greece, and working to strengthen our nations bond.”

Andrew Boff GLA member also added “London, the capital of world multiculturalism, thanks the Greek community for all their contribution over the years” adding “With over 100 Greek churches, and the vast spread of Greek schools across the UK, it’s fair to say the Greek presence is strong.”

The minister’s visit to Turkey and Greece is part of the UK’s ongoing support for the Cypriot-led settlement talks. During his visit, Sir Alan Duncan will meet Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu and Turkish Europe Minister Celik in Turkey. In Greece, Sir Alan Duncan will meet Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and UN Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.

Ahead of the visit, the Minister said:

“I am delighted to be in Ankara and Athens to discuss the Cyprus settlement. The UK fully supports the settlement process and is ready and willing to help in any way it can.

It is an important time in the negotiations and I commend both sides for their continued commitment and determination. I encourage all those involved to approach the talks in January with the same flexibility and creativity that the two leaders of the Cypriot communities have so far demonstrated. I am hopeful that a solution is within reach thanks to the courage and dedication shown by both sides”.

Turkey is the key player in the success or the failure of the ongoing talks on Cyprus, New Democracy’s Shadow Foreign Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos told British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Alan Duncan, during a meeting in Athens on Thursday.

“We discussed the latest developments [on Cyprus] and he informed me of the conclusions and impressions from his visit to Ankara yesterday. Turkey is the key player in achieving success or failing in the new effort to find a solution to the Cyprus issue,” he said after the meeting.

Members of the Greek and Cypriot community yesterday turned up to Conservative Party HQ in support of Andy Street, the Conservative Mayoral candidate for the West Midlands.

A proud Brummie, Andy Street has combined a career with John Lewis, Britain’s most successful workers’ co-operative, with a host of high-profile economic development roles, working with local and national government.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Greece as “an important partner for the UK”, as he arrived in Greece on a two-day visit for meetings with his counterpart Nikos Kotzias and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

“We work closely together on our joint security and defence objectives in the region and our shared goal of a Cyprus Settlement. As we prepare to leave the EU, I look forward to strengthening our historic ties,” said Johnson in a statement distributed by the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office said that the Foreign Secretary is visiting Greece to underline the strength of the UK-Greece relationship and the bilateral cooperation on a wide range of areas including migration, organised crime and counter terrorism, the Cyprus News Agency reports.

Conservative Friends of Greece are backing the Conservative candidate for Ealing Central and Acton Joy Morrissey.

Joy is by far the best person to represent the interests of Ealing Central and Acton in a strong and stable Conservative government – and to give constituents a fresh and distinctive voice in Parliament. Joy’s background includes undertaking humanitarian work in Albania, Kosova, China and India, before completing her degree at the London School of Economics, where she was also on the Board of Governors.

In 2014- elected as a councillor for the Hanger Hill ward in Ealing. Building on her past experience, Joy has been able to work with all communities within the borough. This was illustrated when she was the first Conservative elected by residents to the Acton Vale Estate Management Committee. Additionally, Joy was a key player in saving The Solace Centre, a mental health walk-in facility that the Labour council was intent on closing. Working closely with organisations helping ex-offenders get back into employment, organising highly successful apprenticeship fairs, and is deeply committed to the residents of Ealing and Acton.

Joy believe’s passionately in every person, no matter their background, skills or race, getting a fair deal in society.

Joy’s the only candidate who will stand with Theresa May as she provides the strong and stable leadership that we need in Ealing Central and Acton, and across the United Kingdom, to get the best possible deal from Brexit, and to lock in the economic progress we’ve made so far.

Her priorities are simple..to serve the needs of all our constituents – and champion the priorities of the great borough of Ealing.

Get involved and #BackJoy 

Monday 2^nd October 2017: Conservative Friends of Greece The Conservative Friends of Greece group held their second party conference event, this year in Manchester. The event marks two years since the founding or the group within the UK Conservative Party and has since gone from strength to strength with a record number of 12 Members in the House of Commons, two members of the House of Lords, and a member of the Greater London Assembly. The event was hosted by Stephanos Ioannou, Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Greece, with special guests: The Rt. Hon. Alberto Costa MP President of the All Party- Parliamentary Group for Greece and House of Commons Leader for Conservative Friends of Greece, John Penrose MP, Martin Vickers MP, Christopher Pincher MP, Andrew Rosindell MP. In addition the group were proud to announce their new leader for the House of Lords Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne. The event also welcomed H.E. Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in the UK Dimitris Caramitsos-Tziras and Andrew Boff Conservative member for the London Assembly.

Stephanos Ioannou opened the event by stating that: “For two years now Conservative Friends of Greece have been championing the voices of ordinary Greeks here in the UK. For two years we have welcomed Greeks into our party, given them a home, and made them feel that someone is on their side- the Conservative Party. We are the only political party here in the UK who is reaching out to the Greek community. Not Labour, nor the Liberal Democrats have acknowledged the difference Greek businesses and individuals themselves through society have made to the UK economy throughout the decades. But we do, and we say loud and clear “WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE!” “Even though the UK has voted to leave the European Union, we have not voted to fail our friendships with nations including Greece, that make up approximately 200,000 here in the UK.

Conservative MP’s I’m sure will be lobbying hard to ensure the status of Greeks here in the UK and secure their future. We will never turn Greek people away from Britain, we will welcome you with open arms, and we will let you get on with your day to day life similar to Brits born here.” The Rt. Hon Alberto Costa MP also said: “I have had the pleasure of being President of the APPG for Greece in Parliament, working with colleagues from all parties to enhance and strengthen the bond between the UK and Greece. Together we are fighting hard to make sure ordinary Greeks living in the UK have a say in how we manage our country, and I am optimistic that our future relationship even after we leave the EU will be better than ever.

From tourism to agriculture and shipping to consulting Greek business and expertise will always be welcome to the UK, and we value your input and efforts.” The Rt. Hon John Penrose MP also said: “Both the UK and Greece work very close together militarily, and this is emphasised by our NATO alliance that advocates peace, democracy and freedom.” “The UK has recently sent over HMS Duncan to Piraeus, a major vessel in our Royal Navy, to not only stem the flow of migrants but to undertake exercises with Greek military forces. This is alongside the more recent visit by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon to Souda Bay in Crete, a panicle base that brings together Britain-Greece-United States forces.” “After Brexit, I do not expect, and don’t wish to see a change in the military relationship between the UK and Greece.

Greece is a pillar of stability in a region of instability. They are part of a major crossroad between mainland Europe, the Middle East, and with close proximity to North Africa, and so I echo that the UK would not want to lose such a strategic ally.” Baroness Nicholson also said: “It is an honour for me to be present here this evening with the Conservative Friends of Greece group, and I look forward to working with the group and its members” “Non-governmental organisations are the backbone of the Greek civil society. From the Greek branches of international NGOs and nation-wide NGOs to local grassroots organisations, civil society in Greece is a diverse sector. The U.K. has played a key role also in the humanitarian work going on over in Greece.

In February. 1,000 tents were delivered by the British government to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection to help Greek authorities cope with the influx of refugees and migrants. The UK is providing £940,000 of in-kind assistance delivered through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and NGOs in the form of 61,900 blankets, 1,000 tents, 200 solar lanterns, 8,000 inflatable mats, 8,000 sleeping bags, 4 generators and 1,000 floor tiles. In addition to the humanitarian effort, the U.K. recently deployed HMS Duncan to help with the stem of refugees coming into the country. With the help we are giving, not only are we providing assistance, but we are sending a message to Greece that they are not alone- and that the UK will be by their side even with difficult times such as now.” H.E. Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in the UK Dimitris Caramitsos-Tziras also said: “May I echo the Embassy’s appreciation and full support for the Group’s efforts.

This is my second year at the groups conference event, and I am pleased to see that the number of parliamentarians has increased, as well as of course the new addition of Baroness Nicholson in the Lords. Greece has undergone a 7-year-long deep financial crisis. Throughout that period, and especially now that my country comes out of the crisis, it remained a pillar of stability and security in the otherwise turbulent eastern Mediterranean. Greece maintains good neighbourly relations with all countries in the SE Europe and the East Med region, and has forged strategic partnerships with key countries in those regions.

And in terms of Brexit, but mostly in the effort of working out the future UK-EU relationship and the future UK-Greece bilateral relationship, Greece has been positive and will maintain a constructive role.” Andrew Boff GLA member also said: “London is proud to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, that welcomes everyone and in particular Greeks. With over 20 Greek Orthodox Churches here in London, hundreds of businesses, many Greek students studying at London universities, and over 100 Greek schools, it’s clear that London has and continues to welcome Greeks seeking a better quality of life.”

Nusrat Ghani MP and Maritime Minister for the UK visited the Posidonia Conference in Greece, to highlight the strong UK-Greek ties in shipping that spans over a long history- and one that represents a strong relationship. Mrs. Ghani echoed the past, present and future relationship we hold together in the maritime industry, and that there is no grater example of a better relationship in this industry other than our two nations. Continuing from this, Mrs. Ghani expressed how looking into the future she wishes to see the relationship prosper even more, even beyond the Brexit horizon. Continuing from this, she expressed that even in the face of competition globally, London remains a maritime destination for Greek companies looking for solutions in insurance, legal services, accounting and ship-broking. From this, she echoed the need for an even greater Greek shipping presence in the UK. Finishing her speech at the Greek residence in Athens, the MP mentioned how Brexit offered the opportunity to prepare the industry for being a leader in the maritime sector of the future. A positive energy, along with working alongside essential partners such as the Greek shipping sector, will help deliver even greater prospects that will allow both nations to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla on Wednesday (May 9) began their first joint official visit to Greece, a country of mixed feelings for the British royal family. “The relationship between our two countries goes back such a very long way,” Charles told Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos at the presidential palace in Athens. “I know we have shared an awful lot together over many, many years,” he said. Britain was among the powers that in the 19th century helped Greece secure independence from the Ottoman Empire, and the two countries were allies in both world wars. “Your visit adds a very important link in this chain of friendship,” Pavlopoulos said.

The three-day visit comes as the Prince’s Trust International, an initiative founded by Charles that has helped nearly 900,000 disadvantaged youths in the UK, expands its skills training activities to Greece. “Knowing that Greece, and so many Greeks, have been going through such a very difficult time in recent years, I wanted to find a way – however small and inadequate – to help the young people of Greece achieve their full potential,” the prince told Kathimerini daily. In a meeting with Charles, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras noted that he had accepted an invitation from his British counterpart Theresa May to visit London on June 26.

The 69-year-old heir to the throne has frequently visited Greece privately for holidays. But this is just his second official visit to the country of his father’s birth. “Apart from anything else, Greece is in my blood and I have long had a fascination for her ancient culture and history,” Charles told Kathimerini ahead of the visit. “Not to mention the fact that I have been so fortunate to have visited some of Greece’s many beautiful and unique places,” he added. Charles, who laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, will also visit an allied cemetery and on Thursday and will travel to the island of Crete on Friday for a tour of the ancient Minoan palace of Knossos, excavated by the British archaeological school.

Greek media noted Wednesday that Greece is the only European country never visited by Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II in an official capacity. Charles’ father Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece.