Bocholt mourns the loss of Stasys Cirpus

Stasys Cirpus, who initiated the town twinning between Bocholt and Akmene (Lithuania), has died at the age of 97. Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff has expressed his condolences to the bereaved and, on behalf of the city of Bocholt, honours the deceased's decades of commitment to deepening German-Lithuanian relations.

The people of Bocholt remember Stasys Cirpus as a committed person who worked intensively with the German Red Cross Bocholt to organise aid transports to Lithuania in the early 1990s. After these were cancelled, he accompanied numerous meetings between Bocholt and Akmene.

Following the declaration of friendship in 1994, both cities signed an official city friendship treaty in June 2000. The aim of this treaty was to deepen the existing ties and establish new relationships. Cirpus dedicated itself to this task with great personal commitment.

The official twinning agreement between Bocholt and Akmene was signed on 14 May 2022. Cirpus was awarded honorary citizenship of Akmene in 2000 for his commitment.

The city of Bocholt extends its sincere thanks and special recognition to him for his commitment to the partnership. Bocholt will honour the memory of Stasys Cirpus", said Mayor Kerkhoff.