Members met for the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Rizokarpasso held at the Cypriot Community Centre, Wood Green. The Association was established in 1975 following the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus and has held an AGM every year except for 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic. They discussed the challenges faced by Cyprus and especially in relation to the plight of compatriots who have been enclaved for over 50 years and their denial of Human Rights. The members discussed the activities of the Association and looked forward to their forthcoming Summer Lunch and Dance at the Cypriot Community Centre on 5^th July which will be enjoyed by all their family members regardless of their age, remembering their heritage and Rizokarpasso roots.

The President of the Association, Mary Karaolis, presented the Association’s activities since the last AGM showing that the Association and its members continue to engage in political and philanthropic activities for Cyprus. The Association has actively participated in the National Federation of Cypriots in UK “Hands off Cyprus” campaign and over 200 members sent emails to the Member of Parliament where they lived, covering 44 Parliamentary constituencies throughout the country. Members were reminded that they should complete the NFC Register of Property in Occupied Cyprus if they have not already done so.  The Association has: been represented at NFC meetings in Parliament; regularly sent letters to Members of Parliament e.g. regarding attempts to recognise the illegal airport in occupied Cyprus; reported and sent letters when the media have tried to promote illegally occupied north Cyprus; participated in demonstrations outside the Turkish Embassy.

The Association has been represented at numerous community and philanthropic events in the UK and also at POMAK (World Conference for Overseas Cypriots) in Nicosia. Following the POMAK 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 in Larnaca at the Union of Displaced Communities of Famagusta, 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, (a 3^rd generation UK born Cypriot whose grandmother was born in Rizokarpasso) to discuss initiatives to promote awareness of Rizokarpasso and the enclaved. The Association once again sent each of the 52 enclaved school children a Christmas card and a €100 present funded jointly by the Help Rizokarpasso Charity and the Hive Foundation; gave donations to charities in memory of members e.g. to Cancer Research, Royal Free Hospital Charity as well as to the Government of Cyprus Wildfire Support Account.  

Each member present at the AGM again received a Cyprus map lapel pin which they can gift to a relative or friend to wear and use as a talking point to raise the profile of Cyprus and the need for a just and viable solution. The 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, ambassadors of the UN Security Council 15 member countries and Germany. Our Resolution includes the need for a negotiated solution for Cyprus to encompass:

a)      The reunification of the island and people of Cyprus,

b)      The removal of all Turkish troops from Cyprus.

c)      The repatriation to Turkey of illegal settlers in Cyprus.

d)      The return of all properties to their lawful owners.

e)      The return of all the refugees to their homes and properties in safety.

f)       The abolition of the anachronistic Guarantor Status held by other countries.

g)      The full and effective investigation of the fate of all the missing persons.

The members remembered the sacrifices of the enclaved in Rizokarpasso, especially teacher Yiannoulla Lazaridou Vasiliou (1937 – 17.10.2025) who remained enclaved in Rizokarpasso until her retirement in 1996 so she could teach the enclaved schoolchildren.  Poems on “Rizokarpasso” by Zacharias Demetri Charou were read by his niece Maria Demetriou, Vice President of the Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain. The meeting finished with members enjoying souvlakia and catching up with friends; it was an enjoyable opportunity to socialise in good company and remember Rizokarpasso.

Our Association sent each of the 52 enclaved school children in Rizokarpasso a Christmas card and a Christmas present of €100 (€50 from our Association and €50 donated by Anna Kleanthous). 

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Joyful, Healthy, Prosperous New Year in which Cyprus is free of occupation troops and illegal settlers and properties are returned to their legal owners. 

It was a momentous day for St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School, the only state funded Greek Orthodox Secondary School in the UK, as the community came together to celebrate the official opening of the new school building. The official opening was carried out by the Rt Hon Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, and His Grace, Bishop Iakovos of Claudiopolis. 

The ceremony included Bishop Iakovos leading a service on behalf of His Eminence, Archbishop Nikitas of Great Britain and Thyateira, during which he blessed the new building and unveiled a portrait of His Eminence the late Archbishop Gregorios. Archbishop Gregorios’s vision and support were instrumental in the establishment of the school, which opened in 2013.  Archbishop Gregorios’s  portrait is now displayed in the main reception as a lasting tribute to his legacy. 

Guests at the event included His Excellency the Cyprus High Commissioner Dr Kyriacos Kouros, Members of Parliament, His Worshipful the Mayor of Barnet, the Leader of Barnet Council and Councillors and members of the wider community.  

Ms Phillipson addressed the audience warmly, acknowledging the hard work and dedication that had gone into the project, and she also took time to meet with the Year 12 Politics students and the Student Council. 

Speaking at the ceremony to open the campus, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I know that this school, like so many schools across the country, is at the centre of its local community. It’s a real pleasure to be here for the opening of this fantastic new campus. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made it possible, for all you’ve done for the children who will pass through this wonderful new school this year, next year, and for generations to come”.

The Association of Rizokarpasso was represented in the National Federation of Cypriots secretariat team which delivered a resolution to the Ambassador of Turkey at the Turkish Embassy. The resolution called for Turkey’s reversal of the illegal ‘UDI’, and its return to the negotiating table. The letter emphasised that any negotiations must be conducted within the agreed UN framework and international law, “for the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal  federation with political equality as described in UN resolutions; with a single sovereignty,  single international personality and single citizenship.”

There was a large gathering for the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Rizokarpasso held at the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood, North Finchley. The Association was established in 1975 following the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus and has held an AGM every year except for 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic. They discussed the challenges faced by Cyprus and the specific issues regarding Rizokarpasso, especially in relation to the plight of compatriots who have been enclaved for 50 years and their denial of Human Rights. The members discussed the activities of the Association and future priorities.

The President of the Association, Maria Karaolis, presented the Association’s activities since the last AGM showing that the Association and its members continue to engage in political and philanthropic activities for Cyprus. The Association has actively participated in the National Federation of Cypriots in UK “Hands of Cyprus” campaign and over 170 members sent emails to the Member of Parliament where they lived, covering 35 Parliamentary constituencies throughout the country. The Association has: been represented at NFC meetings in Parliament; regularly sent letters to Members of Parliament e.g. regarding attempts to recognise the illegal airport in occupied Cyprus; reported and sent letters when the media have tried to promote illegally occupied north Cyprus; participated in Demonstrations outside the Turkish Embassy.  The Association once again sent each of the 45 enclaved school children a Christmas card and a €50 present; gave donations to charities in memory of members e.g. to Cancer Research, Alzheimer’s Society. The Association has been represented at numerous community and philanthropic events in the UK and also at the World Conference for Overseas Cypriots in Nicosia.

The Mayor of Barnet Tony Vouros prepared the Auditors Reports for the Association of Rizokarpasso and the Help Rizokarpasso Charity. The Association expressed its thanks to retiring members of the Committee Yiannis Chronias and Andreas Gavrielides who have given many years of service to the Association. The Committee 2025-2027 consists of:

Mary Karaolis – President

Maria Demetriou -Vice President

Androulla Nottage – Treasurer

Christina Yianni – Secretary

Kate Christoforou                                                                            

Maria McVey                                                                                     

Demetris Nicola                                                                                                

Maria Panteli

Andreas Strongolou

To mark the 50^th Anniversary of our Association each member received a Cyprus map lapel pin which they can wear and use as a talking point to raise the profile of Cyprus and the need for a just and viable solution. The 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, ambassadors of the UN Security Council 15 member countries and Germany. Our Resolution includes the need for a negotiated solution for Cyprus to encompass:

a)      The reunification of the island and people of Cyprus,

b)      The removal of all Turkish troops from Cyprus.

c)      The repatriation to Turkey of illegal settlers in Cyprus.

d)      The return of all properties to their lawful owners.

e)      The return of all the refugees to their homes and properties in safety.

f)       The abolition of the anachronistic Guarantor Status held by other countries.

g)      The full and effective investigation of the fate of all the missing persons.

Poet Nina Katy Spanovangelis read from her book “ Ο ΓΥΡΙΣΜΟΣ, Ποιήματα, Σκσέπσειs, Στοχασμοί” (THE RETURN, Poems, Thoughts, Contemplations), two very emotionally moving poems “Επισκέπτεs” (The Visitors) “Γράμμα από το Ριζοκςάρπασσον” (Letter from Rizokarpasson).  The meeting finished with members enjoying souvlakia and catching up with friends; it was an enjoyable opportunity to socialise in good company and remember Rizokarpasso.