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A full-day visit to the occupied Rizokarpaso took place yesterday, 28 June 2023, by Ms Anna Aristotelous, Head of Humanitarian Affairs for Missing and Trapped Persons, during which she had meetings with children, youth and adults, as well as other stakeholders of the Rizokarpaso community such as community leaders, teachers and professors.
The purpose of the visit, which was the first in the occupied areas since Ms. Aristotelous took office, was primarily to present, on behalf of the President of the Republic, cash prizes to the three senior high school students of €350, the senior student of the primary school from €250, the five outstanding students of the Rizokarpassos schools from €100, as well as the senior student of the Larnaca Technical School from €350.
The award ceremony took place in a simple ceremony, which was held in an area outside the school premises, which was lovingly prepared by the teachers, the teachers and the children. Congratulating the students for their achievements and the teachers for their great effort to keep the Rizokarpaso schools functioning at the level of public schools, she clearly stated that both she personally and the President of the Republic will be by their side and support them because they feel particularly proud that in today's society there are children and teachers who have transformed education as an experience and source of life in our landlocked areas. In this great effort, she stressed, we must consistently meet the educational needs of the students, aim for the continuous upgrading of educational programmes and make use of every opportunity for our stranded children.
During her visit, Ms Aristotelous also had the opportunity to be informed, by our stranded children themselves, about the problems they face, their way of life and the most important requirements for its improvement. She took stock of the differences in their concerns, assuring them that after a thorough examination, priorities will be set and specific actions and measures will be defined to help resolve their problems and issues as soon as possible. Her intention, she stressed, is that during her next visit to the occupied Rizokarpaso she will present specific proposals and actions that will improve the living conditions and quality of life of our interned people. "Today I came here to listen to you, a channel of communication has been opened and contact will be frequent," she noted, stressing that, in addition to these opportunities, her Office will always be open to discuss problems. Her priority is to resolve and manage them within the framework of the opportunities and possibilities offered under the present circumstances. Respect for human dignity presupposes the safeguarding of the human rights of every human being, and their well-being in dignified conditions, Ms Aristotelous stressed.
The Head thanked our interned people for the warm welcome she received, and referred with emotion to their difficult and dignified daily struggle for survival. He noted that despite all the difficulties, deprivations and adverse conditions in which our interned people are going through, the landowners in the land of our ancestors, who maintain their properties, cultivate their land, receive education and give daily lessons of life, patience, self-denial, love and attachment to the roots and traditions of our land. All these, he added, are acts of heroism that deserve the Government's utmost respect and gratitude. Finally, he assured that every effort will be made to address the problems and safeguard the rights of our stranded compatriots.
(PM/EP/EHR)
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