30th November, St Andrew’s Day, saw 5,000 worshippers attend the Church service at St Andrew’s Monastery, which holds a special significance for all Cypriots but especially those from nearby Rizokarpasso.
Among the congregation was the President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou.
The service was conducted by Father Zacharia Georgiou and Archimandrite Georgio Christodoulou. The Bishop of Karpasia was also present but had not been given permission to conduct the Church service by the illegal occupying regime although he was allowed to make a speech at the end of the service.
Unfortunately, in order to hold a Church service in the Turkish occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus permission has to be requested from the illegal occupying regime.
Let us pray and hope for an end to the illegal occupation of our homes and properties and the reunification of our ancestral home, Cyprus, so that all Cypriots can live together in Peace and Prosperity, free from occupying troops and illegal settlers.
The President of the Rizokarpasso Association, Mary Karaolis, joined other members of the Secretariat of the National Federation of Cypriots in the U.K. to deliver a resolution to the Turkish Ambassador on the anniversary of the illegal ‘UDI’ by the occupation regime on 15 November
The Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain was represented at the Parliamentary reception “Cyprus geostrategic role: prospects and challenges”, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group Chairman, Bambos Charalambous MP, and President of the National Federation of Cypriots UK, Christos Karaolis. After the speeches the President of the Association of Rizokarpasso, Mary Karaolis, took the opportunity to raise the problems in Rizokarpasso with the guest speaker Cyprus Foreign Minister, Dr Constantinos Kombos, the Solicitor General Sarah Sackman MP, the Shadow UK Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel MP and with other UK Parliamentarians present. Of particular concern were the human rights of the enclaved in Rizokarpasso as well as the rights of the owners of properties who are denied access, use and benefit from their properties occupied by thousands of illegal settlers in Rizokarpasso.
The Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain participated in the National Federation of Cypriots UK olive tree initiative to mark the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus by providing an olive tree which was planted in the grounds of St Demetrios Church, on St Demetrios Feast Day 26th October.
After the church service, on St Demetrios feast day, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas planted the olive tree. In attendance were Archimandrite Nikodimos, the President of the National Federation of Cypriots UK, the President, Committee and members of the Association of Rizokarpasso, Church Committee members and members of the church congregation.
In Rizokarpasso on 26 May 2024 at St Synesios Church the enclaved were joined by other Rizokarpassides and friends to celebrate the feast day of our Patron Saint Synesios – check the photos from the celebration.
Congratulations to Councillor Tony Vourou, from Rizokarpasso, who took office as Mayor of Barnet Council last night at the Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 21 May 2024
Over May and April 2024, the President of the Association of Rizokarpasso UK, Mary Karaolis, has raised the plight of the enclaved (and especially School children) as well as the desire of refugees to return to their properties with H.E. President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides & the Minister of Education, Athena Michaelidou
Over 60 members attended, the 47th 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 actively participated in the National Federation of Cypriots in UK “Hands of Cyprus” campaign when over 150 members sent emails to the Member of Parliament where they lived, covering 37 Parliamentary constituencies throughout the country e.g Broxbourne, Canterbury Guildford, Harlow, Leeds, Somerset, Thanet, Western-Super-Mare, York etc and many of the London boroughs. 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. In 2023 the Association once again sent each of the 45 enclaved school children a Christmas card and a €100 present, half of the amount being funded by a donation from the Hive Foundation. Donations to charities have been made in memory of members e.g. to Cancer Research, Age UK, British Heart Foundation, 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.
At the AGM Councillor Tony Vouros, (who will be officially sworn in as Mayor of Barnet at the end of May), presented the Auditors Reports for the Association of Rizokarpasso and the Help Rizokarpasso Charity.
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. On the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion 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 meeting finished with all the members enjoying souvlakia and catching up with friends; it was an enjoyable opportunity to socialise in good company and remember Rizokarpasso.
Once again the Association of Rizokarpasso in Britain sent a Christmas card and Euros as a present to each of the, now 45, enclaved schoolchildren in Rizokarpasso. This year each student will receive €100 with their Christmas Card. €50 from the Association of Rizokarpasso and €50 as a very generous gift from Mrs Anna Kleanthous, who was born in Rizokarpasso, to whom we are thankful. We are grateful to the Cyprus High Commission in the UK for arranging the transportation of the Christmas cards and Euros to the enclaved schoolchildren in Rizokarpasso. We are certain the schoolchildren will like their religious Christmas card and enjoy buying a gift of their own choice with their €100.
Rizokarpasso was the biggest town on the peninsula and is located halfway between the small town of Yialousa and Apostolos Andreas Monastery. Prior to the 1974 Turkish invasion Rizokarpasso had approximately 3,500 Greek Cypriots, there are now 248 enclaved Greek Cypriots, a further 53 Greek Cypriots have returned to their homes in Rizokarpasso. The small number of enclaved Greek Cypriots have remained continuously in their homes since 1974 denied basic human rights and freedoms, a very difficult existence, especially during the early years following the Turkish invasion.
In 1974 there were 277 students in the Dimotiko School, 235 students in the Gymnasio, a total of 512 students. A nursery school was opened in 2004 and the Gymnasio was also allowed to reopen. There are now 12 schoolchildren in the Nursery, 18 in the Dimotiko and 15 in the Gymnasio, a total of 45 students. Since the invasion thousands of illegal Turkish settlers have been transported to Rizokarpasso taking over the homes and properties of the Rizokarpasso owners who were killed or became refugees.