Visit of DISY President to London
On 21 March the Conservative Friends of Cyprus hosted Mr Averof Neofytou, President of the Democratic Rally in London.
Following Mr Neofytou’s address to the Economist’s Sixth London Business Summit at the London Stock Exchange, a constructive meeting was held with the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, Minister of State for Europe and North America at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The visit also included a meeting with the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party at Conservative Party Campaign Headquarters, where future collaboration between the Conservatives and DISY was discussed.
This was preceded by a roundtable discussion with the CFCyprus Executive Board in the Palace of Westminster and the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Ben Everitt MP, Saqib Bhatti MP, Sheryll Murray MP and Lord (Byron) Davies.
Following the meeting CFCyprus President Theresa Villiers said “It was refreshing to hear Averof’s insight into the big issues of the day. He is always straight talking and outspoken, and today was no exception. The discussion was wide ranging, including the terrible situation in Ukraine. We also heard Averof’s thoughts on the prospects for a resumption of talks for a settlement in Cyprus. All of us in the UK Parliament who support Cyprus regret that there seems little prospect of progress towards a solution happening soon. This meeting was a good opportunity for me and my Conservative colleagues to reiterate our support for a United Cyprus. I have been highlighting the Cyprus cause for over two decades and it has been my privilege to meet many of the island’s elected representatives. It was an honour to be able to host this important occasion in the House of Commons.
The evening concluded with a reception with members of Protoporia, the DISY student organisation in the UK.
Mr Neofytou, a member of Cyprus’ House of Representatives, has led DISY, Cyprus’ governing party and sister-party to the Conservatives since 2013. He has also been nominated as DISY’s candidate for the Cyprus’ presidential elections (to be held in February 2023).
