At the 85th General Meeting of the Association of Rizokarpasso held in the Cypriot Community Centre, Wood Green, the members were sad to hear of the recent death of Yiannoulla Antoniades. The meeting began with a minute silence in memory and respect for Yiannoulla who for many years, until her illness, was the reliable, well-organised, hard working Secretary of the Association; her loss will be deeply felt by all her many friends as well as her family.
The members present discussed the many issues regarding Rizokarpasso, especially in relation to the plight of compatriots who have been enclaved for the last 40 years and denied basic human rights. They deplored the ethnic cleansing which has taken place in occupied northern Cyprus which has reduced Rizokarpasso’s Greek Cypriot population from 4,000 in 1974 to 228 enclaved, 37 of which are schoolchildren.
Maria Karaolis, President, presented a report of the Association’s activities since the last meeting. Numerous letters have been written by the Association to world leaders regarding the lack of progress in solving the Cyprus problem and urging them to use their influence with Turkey, which seems determined to retain its hold on the occupied area of northern Cyprus with its troops and settlers in order to permanently change the demography of the island and destroy its cultural and religious heritage. Once again, the members vehemently upheld that the return of the refugees to their homes and properties was a human right, morally correct and totally non-negotiable. A Resolution is to be sent to the 5 permanent member states of the UN Security Council, EU, politicians and prominent world leaders expressing their steadfastness also condemning Turkey’s continued violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and demanding the withdrawal of Turkish troops and illegal settlers from Cyprus.
Once again, the members voted to send a €50 Christmas present and card to each of the 37 enclaved school children in Rizokarpasso; the package, as usual, will be taken to the Cyprus High Commission, which will arrange for the transportation of the Christmas presents to Cyprus and delivery to the children in Rizokarpasso. The members were proud that a number of the enclaved schoolchildren who completed secondary school in Rizokarpasso continued their studies at university in Cyprus and abroad and that this year one of them, who was in his final year at the University of Cyprus studying law, won the EU ERASMUS internship and spent 3 months in London with a top city firm. Members were also pleased that donations to various charities e.g. Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Radiomarathon were made in memory of members. An outline of the financial accounts of the Association of Rizokarpasso and of the Charity “Help Rizokarpasso” was presented to members by the Treasurer of the Association Andreas Gavrielides. He also read out the update sent by the Church of Cyprus regarding the progress of the renovation works at Apostolos Andreas Monastery.
Christos Karaolis, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, congratulated the Association on its activities both as a charity and for the Cyprus cause. He also informed the members of the work of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK.
Member Keti Spanovangelis read her very moving poem “A Letter From Rizokarpasso”, in which Rizokarpasso calls on its people to remember its beauty and their experiences there and to keep its name alive. The meeting finished with all the members enjoying souvlakia, exchanging family news and experiences and making their arrangements for their Association Dinner & Dance on Sunday 29th November at the Penridge Banqueting Suite, 470 Bowes Road, Arnos Grove, London N11 1NL.
