Over 60 members attended,  the 47^th 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 50^th 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.  

Σε εκδήλωση που έγινε χθες βράδυ 29.6.2023 στο Προεδρικό Μέγαρο παρουσία του Υφυπουργού Πολιτισμού κ. Μιχάλη Χατζηγιάννη η ειδική Επιτροπή Άυλης Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς απένειμε  σε Δήμους, Κοινότητες και άλλους Φορείς που έχουν πετύχει την έγγραφη στον κατάλογο  της Άυλης Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς της UNESCO τα Πιστοποιητικά Εγγραφής τους.

Η Κωμόπολη μας Ριζοκάρπασον έχει εξασφαλίσει τα πιο κάτω Πιστοποιητικά:

1.Παραδοσιακά Αρτοσκευάσματα και Ζυμωτά Ριζοκαρπάσου 

2.Παραδοσιακή Διατροφή και Εθιμικές  Πρακτικές στην Κοινότητα Ριζοκαρπάσου

και

3.Γαλακτοκομικός Πολιτισμός της Κύπρου Παραδοσιακές Πρακτικές, Τεχνικές Παρασκευής και Εθιμική Ζωή.

Αιτητές τα Κοινοτικά Συμβούλια Ριζοκαρπάσου ο Λαογραφικός Όμιλος Ριζοκαρπάσου και το Σωματείο «Το Ριζοκάρπασον»

Η όλη επιτυχία για την εγγραφή των πιο πάνω ήταν μετά από σκληρή δουλειά έρευνα και προσωπικό κόστος της   αγαπητή μας συγχωριανή Δρ Νάσας  Παταπίου, Ιστορικός – Ερευνήτρια και με την πολύτιμη συνδρομή της κ Αίγλης Αθανασιάδη καθηγήτριας οικοκυρικών. 

Όλα τα οργανωμένα σύνολα Ριζοκαρπάσου εκφράζουμε   τις εγκάρδιες ευχαριστίες μας στη Δρ Νάσα Παταπίου και  κ. Αίγλη Αθανασιάδη για την σκληρή δουλειά που έκαναν για να επιτύχουμε την εγγραφή μας  στον κατάλογο της Άυλης Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς.