The Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain was represented at the World Conference Of Cyprus Diaspora, (POMAK), in Nicosia, by Maria McVey, Joanna Vikentio Nicola and Mary Karaolis. We were pleased to meet at the Conference delegates Kostas Kolatsis from South Africa and Michael Mechanicou from Australia. We were delighted that the new President of POMAK is Christos Karaolis whose grandmother Andriana Hadjiyiangou was born in Rizokarpasso.

Following the Conference, Rizokarpasso Kinodarchis and member of the Union of Displaced Communities of Famagusta, Michalis Mikeli Panteli, together with Elena Vlasiou, President of the Association of Rizokarpasso in Cyprus met at the Union of Displaced Communities of Famagusta, (Ένωσις Εκτοπισμένων Κοινοτήτων Αμμοχώστου) (Ε.Ε.Κ.Α.), in Larnaca with Mary Karaolis, President of the Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain, and Rizokarpassides Kostas Kolatsis from South Africa, Michael Mechanicou from Australia and Christos Karaolis President of the National Federation of Cypriots in UK and President POMAK.

We discussed a wide range of issues including the problems faced by the enclaved Rizokarpassides such as movement, culture and religion; the issues the schools in Rizokarpasso have to deal with and how this impacts on the students education;  how to maintain and enhance the Rizokarpasso associations; how to enlighten and inform the wider community in Cyprus and overseas about Rizokarpasso, eg its traditions, history and current existence under Turkish occupation; the problems created by illegal settlers in Rizokarpasso using the properties legally owned by Rizokarpassides in Cyprus and overseas.

With ~50 members in attendance, the 45^th  Annual General Meeting of the Association of Rizokarpasso held at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood, North Finchley, was an opportunity to discuss the many challenges faced by Cyprus and the specific issues regarding Rizokarpasso, especially in relation to the plight of compatriots who have been enclaved for over 47 years. It was also an opportunity for members to discuss the activities of the Association and priorites for the upcoming year.

Maria Karaolis, the President, presented a report of the Association’s activities since the last Annual General Meeting showing that the pandemic had not prevented the Association and its members from engaging in political activities for Cyprus. During the pandemic, the Association has actively participated in the National Federation of Cypriots in UK “Hands of Cyprus” e-campaign; regulary sent letters to Members of Parliament and the media who had tried to promote illegally occupied north Cyprus; delivered a petition to the Prime Minister in Downing Street and; participated in Demonstrations outside the Turkish Embassy. The President’s Report was followed by Andreas Gavrielides, the Treasurer, who presented the Financial Report and Pavlos Pavlou the Auditors Report. 

The members then discussed issues and incidents impacting their home-town of Rizokarpasso, including the sale, by illegal migrants, of their illegally occupied Rizokarpasso properties to foreign buyers. In addition, members passed a Resolution to be sent to the UK Prime Minister, President of the USA, President of the European Commission, President of the European Council, President of the European Parliament, UN Secretary General, NATO Secretary General, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The meeting finished with all the members enjoying souvlakia and catching up with friends about their news, following two years of restricted life due to the pandemic when the members had not met.  Members also enjoyed a photograph exhibition of previous events including the last AGM, Summer outing to Eastbourne and Dinner and Dance in 2019 as well videos showing Rizokarpasso. It was also an opportunity for members to enjoy each other’s company and remember Rizokarpasso.

ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ

ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΩΝ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΩΝ ΡΙΖΟΚΑΡΠΑΣΟΥ ΕΝΟΡΙΩΝ:

Αγίας Τριάδας – Ανάβρυσης – ΛεκούΣωματείου «ΤΟ ΡΙΖΟΚΑΡΠΑΣΟΝ» και ΛΑΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟΥ ΟΜΙΛΟΥ ΡΙΖΟΚΑΡΠΑΣΟΥ

Με ιδιαίτερη χαρά και αισθήματα υπερηφάνειας κοινοποιούμε στους απανταχού Ριζοκαρπασίτες ότι μετά από αίτημά μας στην Κυπριακή Εθνική Επιτροπή UNESCO έχουν εγγραφεί στον Εθνικό Κατάλογο της Άυλης Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς (2019), τα «Παραδοσιακά Αρτοσκευάσματα και Ζυμώματα Ριζοκαρπάσου: Παραδοσιακοί Τρόποι Παρασκευής και Εθιμική Ζωή».Επίσης στον Εθνικό Κατάλογο της Άυλης Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς (2019) έχει εγγραφεί «Ο Γαλακτοκομικός Πολιτισμός της Κύπρου», με αιτητή το Μουσείο Κυπριακών Τροφίμων και Διατροφής και εμάς συναιτητές για το περίφημο «Ριζοκαρπασίτικο Βούτυρο της Αναρής».

Το αίτημα και το σχετικό δοκίμιο για τα «Αρτοσκευάσματα Ριζοκαρπάσου» καθώς επίσης και το κείμενο για το « Ριζοκαρπασίτικο Βούτυρο της Αναρής» συντάχθηκαν από τη δρα Νάσα Παταπίου, ιστορικό-ερευνήτρια και πρόεδρο του Λαογραφικού Ομίλου Ριζοκαρπάσου, με την πολύτιμη συνεργασία και αρωγή της Αίγλης Ζαχαρίου Αθανασιάδου, καθηγήτριας οικιακής οικονομίας, με πολυετή ενασχόληση στον Ριζοκαρπασίτικο γαστρονομικό πολιτισμό.8.2.2020

Announcement
Rizokarpasso Community Council Agia Triada – Anavrisi – Leko & the Rizokarpasso Folklore Group

It is with great pleasure and pride that we share worldwide with our fellow Rizokarpasites that after our request to the Cypriot National Commission in UNESCO they have entered in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2019) , “Rizokarpasso Traditional Bakery and Yeast Products: Traditional Preparations and Traditional Life”.

Also listed in the National Catalogue of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2019) is “The Dairy Culture of Cyprus”, with a request from the Museum of Cypriot Food and Nutrition, to include the famous “Rizokarpasso Butter and Anari”. The request and relevant documentation for “Rizokarpasso Traditional Bakery and Yeast Products” as well as the text for “Rizokarpasso Butter and Anari” were written by Dr Nassa Patapiou, historian-researcher and president of the Rizokarpasso Folklore Group, with the valuable cooperation and assistance of Egli Zachariou Athanasiadou, home economics teacher with many years of experience in Rizokarpasso gastronomic culture.

On Saint Andrew’s Day 30^th November,the Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain held its annual Charity Dinner and Dance at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood. All age groups were represented, ranging from 2 to 97 years of age, proud of their roots and not prepared to forget that Rizokarpasso belongs to them.  Present amongst the guests were the Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK, Theodoros Gotsis, The Rt. Revd. Bishop Athanasios of Tropaeou, the Parliamentary Candidate for Finchley & Golders Green, Mike Freer, and the President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, Christos Karaolis. The evening began with a minute’s silence to remember, pay tribute to and show respect for our much loved and highly respected Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain. 

People ate a delicious traditional souvla meal, danced and enjoyed the company of friends and relatives at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood in what was a truly, family and friends orientated joyful community atmosphere.  The music had toddlers to pensioners on the dance floor and in fact the pensioners were the last to leave the dance floor at the end of the evening.

Maria Karaolis, the President of the Association of Rizokarpasso thanked those present at the Charity Dinner and Dance saying that they, together with the brochure advertisers and the providers of raffle prizes and donations had, once again, enabled the Association to send, via the Cyprus High Commission, a €50 Christmas present to each of the 46 schoolchildren enclaved in Rizokarpasso. She said that they were proud of the enclaved Rizokarpassides and the successes of their children but also remembered their hardship and sacrifices for 45 years since the 1974 Turkish invasion.   

Mrs Karaolis said “despite Turkey’s decision to test its new Russian made air-defence system Turkey is still considered by our Government and other Western nations to be an important NATO ally that holds the key to Western security and the control of migration.  Turkey wants to join the EU yet muzzles democracy, imprisons Government critics, closes down media outlets and imprisons its journalists, it fails to abide by Agreements, ignores the Geneva Convention, ignores UN Resolutions, mistreats its religious and ethnic minorities.  The Kurdish minority community is 25% of Turkey’s population.  In the last few months Turkey has invaded and occupied northern Syria, which was mainly inhabited by Kurds and is now engaged in demographic engineering by so called “repatriating” Arab Syrian refugees into occupied northern Syria, which has brought fierce criticism from Turkey’s international allies.  Turkey does not share our Western interests or European values of democracy, respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom, equality and the rule of law. Turkey says that it wants the negotiations on Cyprus to be successful yet engages in aggressive actions by violating the Republic of Cyprus airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone with its warships and drill ships obstructing the Republic of Cyprus right to exploit its own natural resources. Turkey insists on keeping its troops in Cyprus and keeping the anachronistic Guarantor Power for Cyprus.  The Republic of Cyprus is an independent country and a member of the UN, the EU, the Commonwealth and is a valued, stable, reliable, democratic, ally in a very volatile region; it doesn’t need Guarantors”.

She expressed the hope that talks would resume in a manner that could lead to a just, viable and lasting solution that will reunify the island, terminate Turkey’s illegal actions, which are a violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and against international law, and allow all of the Cypriots to live together throughout the island in a peaceful and safe Republic of Cyprus. 

She asked people to look at the model of Apostolos Andreas Monastery, (placed in the conservatory at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood two days before), built in 1992 with loving care, devotion and precision by the late Christakis Christodoulou, who died in London in 2010.  He was born in Rizokarpasso in 1945. The model was donated by his family via the Association of Rizokarpasso to the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood for people to admire and remember St Andrew’s Church and Monastery located on the tip of Cyprus, near Rizokarpasso, in occupied Cyprus.  A present to all to celebrate St Andrew’s Day.

She wished everyone a Happy Christmas and a New Year, 2020, full of happiness, prosperity and good health; a New Year that brings Freedom, Joy and Justice throughout Cyprus. 

Eastbourne was the destination this year for the annual summer seaside trip for the members of the Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain. The group gathered and boarded their coach near the Cypriot Community Centre, Wood Green. On arrival everyone enjoyed the traditional seaside lunch of Fish & Chips at Qualisea Restaurant.

After lunch they appreciated the nice weather and fresh sea air and spent the afternoon either relaxing or walking along the seafront. However, some took advantage of the shopping opportunities in Eastbourne, which has a large shopping area with many well known shops as well as a street market. Before boarding the coach for the return journey most indulged in ice cream and/or doughnuts, declaring that they would diet the following day.

The coach journey was made more enjoyable with Greek music and people singing Greek songs e.g. “To Yelekaki”, Yialo YIalo”, “Samiotissa” led by the melodious voices of Keti and Andreas.

 Anastasis, who at 97 is our oldest Association member, has a wealth of knowledge about our unforgettable Rizokarpasso and its families; he has always been a staunch supporter of the Association and never misses an outing or an event. 

Members took the opportunity to exchange family information, recount memories of Rizokarpasso, and express their desire to return to their homes and properties in Rizokarpasso. They remembered the sacrifice of the remaining 228 enclaved Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpasso, whose numbers have declined over the years from over 3,000 Rizokarpassides prior to 1974. All said they wanted to send the NFC letter to their Members of Parliament  to seek their support for justice for Cyprus and to remind them of the 45 years of Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus, the continued violation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus and the latest announcement that Turkey is sending a second drilling ship, Yavuz, this time to a drilling site off the Karpas peninsula.  Many will attend the NFC annual Parliament event for Cyprus on Tuesday 17th July. The Association’s next opportunity for family and friends to meet will be at the Association’s Dinner and Dance at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood on Saturday 30^th November.