Citizen Peacemaking in Cyprus

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CITIZEN

PEACEMAKING

IN CYPRUS

The story ofco-operation

and trust acrossthe Green Line


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CITIZEN PEACEMAKING

IN CYPRUS

The story of co-operation

and trust across the

Green Line


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Cpyrigt 2013

United Natins Deelpment Prgramme.

Prduced in Cyprus.

All rigts resered. N part f tis publicatin may

be reprduced, stred in a retrieal system r transmitted

in any frm r by any means, electrnic, mecanical,

ptcpying, recrding, r terwise, witut prir

permissin f UNDP-Actin fr C-peratin and Trust.

Publised by UNDP-ACT

ISBN 978-9963-627-05-9

www.undp-act.rg


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Acknowledgements

Editors

Cristper Luise and Tabita Mrgan

Contributors

Cristper Luise, Niclas Jarraud, Kimberly Fukaris, Elizabet Kassinis,

Jn Lewis, Starula Gergiadu, Nilgun Arif, Pelin Maneglu, Pembe Mentes

Design

Zara Der Arakelian

Printing

Abslute Paper


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If you want to make peace with your enemy,

you have to work with your enemy.

Then he becomes your partner.

Nelson Mandela,

Former President of South Africa

We cannot change the past, but we can change

our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant

forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility.

Exchange love for hate - thereby, making the

present comfortable and the future promising.

Maya Angelou,African-American Poet and Civil Rights Leader

True peace can rarely be imposed from the

outside; it must be born within and between

communities through meetings and dialogue

and then carried outward.Jean Vanier,

Philosopher and Writer


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Contents

Chapter 1: An innatie partnersip fr scial cange ........................................... 7

Chapter 2: Cyprits pre tat c-peratin and ceistence are pssible ............... 16

Chapter 3: Citizens play teir part in te searc fr peace ...................................... 27

Chapter 4: Ciil sciety rganisatins imagine new narraties f te future ........... 52

Chapter 5: Legacy ..................................................................................................... 67

References .................................................................................................................. 72

Endnotes ..................................................................................................................... 74

Photos: Pages 29 - 44


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Extract from UN Security Council Resolution 2114

(30 July 2013)

Agreeingthat active participation of civil

society groups, including womens groups,

is essential to the political process and can

contribute to making any future settlement

sustainable, recallingthat women play an

important role in peace processes, welcomingall efforts to promote bicommunal contacts

and events including, inter alia, on the part

of all United Nations bodies on the island,

and urgingthe two sides to promote the

active engagement of civil society and the

encouragement of co-operation between

economic and commercial bodies and to

remove all obstacles to such contacts.
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2114(2013)http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2114(2013)


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Te wrld is canging. Tday citizen-led rganizatins play a leadersip rle in all

walks f life; scial, plitical and ecnmic. Many f tese rganizatins wrk

as legitimate and ften muc needed partners t gernment, te priate sectr and

internatinal rganizatins suc as te United Natins and te Eurpean Unin. Te

key rle played by ciil sciety in fstering scial cange and ecnmic deelpment

as epanded in te 21st century as gernments seek partners t manage te

cmple callenges f glbalizatin. At te same time te pwer f mdern glbal

cmmunicatins as embldened ciil sciety and encuraged citizen participatin

and pened up an internatinal public space fr debate and actin. Tese same frces

ae als infrmed and inuenced public pinin n an unprecedented glbal scale,

creating a csmplitan set f alues and epectatins n te part f te general

public tat transcend natinal bundaries and are nw saping te plitical agenda.

As lng ag as 1969 te Republic f Cyprus ratied te Internatinal Cenant n

Ciil and Plitical Rigts2, a grundbreaking dcument wic establised te rigt

f citizens t inuence public affairs werein eery citizen sall ae te rigt and

te pprtunity, witut () unreasnable restrictins: t take part in te cnduct f

public affairs, directly r trug freely csen representaties. Nearly frty years

later te cncept f citizen-led demcracy as radically canged, s muc s tat in

2004 te Panel f Eminent Persns n United Natins - Ciil Sciety Relatins (Te

Cards Panel)

3

argued tat ciil sciety is as muc part f tdays glbal gernanceas gernments. In te past few years te internatinal cmmunity as sugt t

furter cnslidate te rle f ciil sciety, effrts wic are reected in cmmitments

AN INNovATIvE PARTNERShIP FoR SoCIAL ChANGE

A SOCIETY BASED ON GOVERNMENT

BY DISCUSSION REQUIRES A STRONG

CIVIL SOCIETY THAT PLAYS AN

ACTIVE ROLE IN POLITICAL DEBATE.

Civil paths to peace: A report of the

Commonwealth Commission on respect

and understanding1

Chapter 1
http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspxhttp://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspxhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/226-initiatives/32340-panel-of-eminent-persons-on-united-nations-civil-society-relations-cardoso-panel.htmlhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/226-initiatives/32340-panel-of-eminent-persons-on-united-nations-civil-society-relations-cardoso-panel.htmlhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/226-initiatives/32340-panel-of-eminent-persons-on-united-nations-civil-society-relations-cardoso-panel.htmlhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://secretariat.thecommonwealth.org/files/227381/FileName/CivilPathstoPeace978-1-84859-001-4web-secure.pdfhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/226-initiatives/32340-panel-of-eminent-persons-on-united-nations-civil-society-relations-cardoso-panel.htmlhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/226-initiatives/32340-panel-of-eminent-persons-on-united-nations-civil-society-relations-cardoso-panel.htmlhttp://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspxhttp://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx


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I have been involved in peace-buildingwork across the divide for decades.

I have had the opportunity through

this work and face-to-face contacts to

enrich my knowledge about the Others

reality, concerns and needs as well asform many friendships based on trust

and desire to work together. I have also

seen many changes in (mis)perceptions

of my students when they met the

other and the acknowledgment that the

dominant national narrative gives limited

and selective information compared

to the richness of experiences and

personal stories which citizens from both

communities and others share.Maria Hadjipavlou,

Professor of Social and Political Science, University of Cyprus.


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made by eads f state at te 4t hig Leel Frum n Aid Effectieness in December

2011 in Busan (Krea), were it was recgnized tat ciil sciety rganisatinsplay a ital rle in enabling peple t claim teir rigts: in prmting a rigts-based

perspectie; in saping deelpment plicies and partnersips; and in erseeing

teir implementatin. one year later te UN General Assembly adpted te

recmmendatins cntained in The Future We Want4, te dcument wic arse ut

f te Ri+20 Cnference eld in June 2012. As a result UN member states

endrsed te Ri+20 cmmitments wic articulated an inclusie apprac t

deelpment, trug wic brad public participatin and te ice fr citizens can

be secured in te prcesses tat underpin te decisins tat affect te lies f peple,wit special empasis n wmen, yut and marginalised grups in sciety.

Since te eents f te Arab Spring and ter ppular actin mements

wrldwide, te need fr cnstructie citizen actin t elp manage scietal cange

as becme een mre starkly eident wrldwide. In respnse t a series f glbal

crises, ppular demand fr plitical and deelpmental slutins rted in ecnmic

and plitical inclusin as increased. Transitins in te Arab states in particular

are reminders bt f te pwer f ciic participatin and te need fr cntinued

supprt t gernments and scieties if tey are t sustain demcratic transitin.

Cncerns abut te legitimacy and transparency f gernments are n te rise

wrldwide, and ae catalyzed a new accuntability agenda inling mbilizatin

f bt public and priate actrs n te issue f accuntable gernance, gender-

respnsie institutins and te need fr a new cntract between state and sciety.

Te ramicatins f many f tese sci-plitical canges ae been nticed

particularly keenly in Cyprus since tey ae taken place in neigburing cuntries.

Cyprus eperienced its wn ecnmic turmil in 2013 te year te glbal nancial

crisis came t te Greek Cyprit cmmunity te Turkis Cyprit cmmunity was

already eperiencing te cnsequences f decades f ecnmic stagnatin. Tese

eents and teir fallut require a retinking f plicy and apprac, bt at natinal

and internatinal leels, wile te need fr Cyprus t engage fully in te reginal andglbal plicy debate n te management f demcratic transitin is self-eident. one f

te many cntributins te Cyprit peple and teir leaders can make t tis debate
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=%20A/RES/66/288http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=%20A/RES/66/288http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=%20A/RES/66/288


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is teir lng and etensie eperience f ciil sciety actiism in te management f

te sci-plitical callenges f cnict. It is a stry wic demnstrates te pwerf multi-dimensinal partnersips inling lcal ciil sciety and te internatinal

dnr cmmunity, and wic manifests in itself te prfund and inspiratinal alues

f citizen-led cange.

UNDP AND USAID COMMITMENT

TO RECONCILIATION IN CYPRUS

Tere was irtually n independent ciil sciety mement in Cyprus prir t 1974

and it is peraps nt surprising tat tere was n citizen-led peace mement in te

immediate aftermat f te eents f tat year. Tere were certainly ery few bi-

cmmunal meetings between Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits fr te net 15

years. Indeed te de fact partitin f te island meant tat ciil sciety sectrs n

eiter side f te diide deelped independently frm eac ter, and it was nt

until te early 1990s tat indiidual Cyprit ciil sciety actiists and academicsbegan t nd creatie ways t start a dialgue n w tey culd supprt a slutin

t te Cyprus questin. At te time many felt tey were perating in an unfaurable

enirnment, and until 2003 cntacts between ciil sciety rganisatins (CSos) acrss

te buffer zne were almst impssible, sae by sme pineers w fund ways t

meet by attending wrksps abrad, r, ery ccasinally, in te buffer zne itself.

In the early days you needed to be brave to get involved

as anyone from the other community was considered

the enemy. There was no easy way of meeting and the

authorities had to grant us permission to enter the

UN buffer zone.

Michalis Avraam, Cypriot civil society pioneer.


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It was very exciting to be part of a meaningful action that

had to do with the future of Cyprus. However externalforces were continuously discrediting our work.

Bulent Kanol, Cypriot civil society pioneer.

Te United Natins Deelpment Prgramme (UNDP) and te United States Agency

fr Internatinal Deelpment (USAID) began priding supprt fr small-scale

bi-cmmunal effrts in te 1970s. Te lw-prle endrsement f bi-cmmunalcntact canged in 1998 wen te tw rganisatins agreed t establis te Bi-

cmmunal Deelpment Prgramme (BDP). Te BDP was te rst cncerted effrt

by te internatinal cmmunity t slicit and fund ciil sciety initiaties tat brugt

Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits tgeter t wrk n issues f cmmn cncern.

Altug te rganizatins wrking n actiities fcused n neutral issues suc as

ealt care and te enirnment, crss-cmmunity ciil sciety wrk was uneard f

and te mtiatins f tse participating in te initiaties were regularly questined.

In spite f tis te BDP ad a uge impact n canging te practicalities f bi-cmmunal wrk, because it was te nly mecanism aailable fr supprting

structured bi-cmmunal interactin, and by 2004 70% f BDP prjects ad

succeeded in acieing sme frm f face-t-face cntact (eiter n te island r

ff-island) between Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits. Altug te BDP was

successful in breaking many f te tabs assciated wit bi-cmmunal cntact,

it culd ae been blder in its attempts t fster an inter-cmmunal ciil sciety

sectr, t spark plicy dialgue and supprt adcacy. Te 2005 CIvICUS study

fr Cyprus5 reiterated te weakness f ciil sciety in bt cmmunities and teinability f CSos t ae an impact eiter n plicy r preailing scial nrms.

It was against tis backgrund tat UNDP and USAID launced te Actin fr C-

peratin and Trust prgramme6 (ACT) in 2005. Te prgramme led te way in te

adancement f inter-cmmunal relatins in a less tan faurable climate. Its wrk

was facilitated weer by te relaatin f crssing restrictins between nrt and

sut by te Turkis Cyprit autrities in 2003. Fr te rst time face-t-face cntact

between Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits became pssible enabling te scpe f

ACTs wrk t be far mre etensie. Despite callenges and te cntinued diisin f
http://www.intercollege.ac.cy/media/Civicus/CIVICUS7Apr06_summary.pdfhttp://www.intercollege.ac.cy/media/Civicus/CIVICUS7Apr06_summary.pdfhttp://www.intercollege.ac.cy/media/Civicus/CIVICUS7Apr06_summary.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/http://www.undp-act.org/http://www.undp-act.org/http://www.undp-act.org/http://www.undp-act.org/http://www.intercollege.ac.cy/media/Civicus/CIVICUS7Apr06_summary.pdfhttp://www.intercollege.ac.cy/media/Civicus/CIVICUS7Apr06_summary.pdf


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te island, te ACT prgramme elped establis a slid fundatin fr cmmunicatin,

c-peratin and recnciliatin between Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits. oereigt years, dedicated indiiduals and rganizatins frm acrss te diide succeeded

in bringing abut dramatic canges in scietal attitudes twards c-peratin between

te tw cmmunities. Wrking against a backdrp f fear, mistrust and prejudice te

Cyprits w were part f te ACT prgramme cse t listen and learn, discuss and

debate and, ultimately, t negtiate and cmprmise.

Frm te start USAID and UNDP utilized cnsultatie prcesses t ensure tatstakelder aspiratins and cncerns were understd, beneciary needs addressed and

feedback sared. Public cnsultatins were eld at te Ledra Palace htel t discuss

te state f trust between te tw cmmunities based n pll results and sureys. Tis

public utreac eercise elped te ACT prgramme t align its pririties in accrdance

wit plitical deelpments and assess te strategic needs f te emerging inter-

cmmunal ciil sciety sectr. Te ACT prgramme elped t demnstrate te alue

f c-peratin by epliting pprtunities t wrk n areas f cmmn interest and

mutual benet suc as ecnmic deelpment, cultural eritage and yut. Between

2005 and 2008, te prgramme funded 120 prjects, inling 70,000 Cyprits in bi-

cmmunal actiities, wile deelping te skills and knwledge f 370 CSos. Wile

eac prject ad its wn fcus and epertise all were geared twards te prgrammes

erall peace-building gal. In 2009 te ACT prgramme respnded t te resumptin

f negtiatins between te islands leaders by wrking wit key ciil sciety partners

t design prjects wic wuld bring Cyprits clser t te prcess f making peace.

BRINGING CIVIL SOCIETY

PEACE-BUILDING APPROACHES

TO THE wIDER UN

Te UN presence in Cyprus is nt frmally an integrated missin, but in practice it

perates like ne. Eac f te majr UN rganisatins te United NatinsPeacekeeping Frce in Cyprus (UNFICYP), te ofce f te Special Adisr

f te Secretary-General (oSASG) terwise knwn as te UN Gd ofces


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Mission, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plays a

role that reects its global remit. While UNFICYP focuses on monitoring theceasere between the two sides and maintaining the security of the buffer zone,

the Good Ofces Mission is charged with facilitating the ofcial peace process and

UNDP supports the wider peace-building and reconciliation efforts on the island.

Traditionally UNDP and UNFICYP worked closely in Cyprus, even when there was no

ongoing peace process. From its inception ACT helped its partners to access facilities

and places to meet in the UN buffer zone, which is under the jurisdiction of the UN blueberets. This involved obtaining permission to hold bi-communal events at the islands

key crossing points, along with providing logistical support to ensure access across the

Green Line when necessary. In 2007 UNFICYP facilitated access to the grounds of the

Ledra Palace Hotel (home to the British UN contingent which monitors the ceasere

line in Nicosia) to allow 500 UNDP invited guests to attend a screening of lms

made by young people about various social issues. Earlier that year UNFICYP helped

UNDP and its partners organize the islands rst civil society fair which attracted over

2,000 participants to the buffer zone.

Over the years, successive Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSGs)

have attached great importance to the work of the ACT programme in the context

of the UNs overall mission to build trust between the two communities, repeatedly

emphasising the role of civil society. This was reected in the regular reports made

by the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the UNs work in Cyprus. The

reports commended the work of Cypriot civil society and highlighted the contribution

made by UN-supported bi-communal activities and projects. Some of these reports

also reected the need for civil society to have a greater role in the peace process,

and the Secretary-General often appealed directly to the leaders of each community

to create the necessary conditions for this to happen. In June 2012 the Secretary-

General reiterated the value of civil society by stating: I furthermore encourage

political leaders to fully embrace the concept and practice of a more inclusive

dialogue which ensures that civil society actors can have a more meaningful role inthepeace process7.


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on 8t July 2006 te Cyprit leaders, in a meeting wit UN Under-Secretary-

General Ibraim Gambari, agreed t measures t restart te peace talks wic adended wit te rejectin f te Annan Plan in 2004. As part f tis prcess it was

agreed t establis bi-cmmunal tecnical cmmittees wic wuld seek cnsensus

n specic areas amngst Cyprit specialists in a particular eld. Te agreement was

implemented in 2008, and te tecnical cmmittees were establised in April f tat

year, fllwed by te re-establisment f te UN Gd ofces Missin and te

resumptin f direct talks between te leaders. Wit a strng track recrd f

bi-cmmunal actiities and te eperience f assisting tecnical cmmittees during

te preius peace negtiatins, UNDP was well placed t better cnnect te ciilsciety pririties f te ACT prgramme wit te frmal peace prcess

nw underway. UNDP-ACT played a pital rle in te deelpment and

facilitatin f te tecnical cmmittees. Signicantly, participants in sme f

te cmmittees included ciil sciety leaders and tecnical eperts w ad

wrked n earlier bi-cmmunal prjects supprted by UNDP and USAID; mst

ntably tse dealing wit te enirnment, cultural eritage and ecnmics.

In parallel, CSos were able t implement sme f te fcially-sanctined

cndence-building measures r CBMs wic ad emerged trug te wrk f

te tecnical cmmittees wit funding and supprt frm te ACT prgramme.

UNDP-ACTs tecnical and nancial supprt t te cmmittees allwed fr eigt

leader-appred CBMs t be implemented. In additin ACT supprted ter CBMs

utside f te peace prcess wic pred imprtant in paing te way fr increased

cntact between te cmmunities. one signicant eample f tis type f CBM saw

te pling f USAID and EU funding t pen a new crssing pint in 20108,

wic linked tw relatiely islated cmmunities tat ad nt ad direct cntact wit

eac ter since 1974.
http://www.unficyp.org/media/SG%20Reports/S_2010_605.pdfhttp://www.unficyp.org/media/SG%20Reports/S_2010_605.pdf


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Confdence-Building Measures supported by the ACT Programme,

2009-2013

Nature of CBM Technical

Committee

Result

Campaign on co-operation

for the prevention of wildres

within the buffer zone.

Environment Raised awareness of the dangers of wildres in

the buffer zone and built the capacity of both

communities in a potential re area near the zone

to prevent them.

Asthma awareness initiative. Health Increased the knowledge of doctors from both

communities specializing in asthma.

Launch of the JointCommunications Room (JCR).

Crime Improved the sharing of information on criminalmatters between the two communities.

Seminars on children at risk

and on prevention of drug abuse.

Crime Allowed for the sharing of information on drug

abuse between the two communities.

Campaign on raising awareness

of water saving measures.

Environment Raised awareness of water conservation needs in

Cyprus.

World AIDS Day event,

Cyprus Against AIDS.

Health Raised awareness of HIV/AIDS and increased the

knowledge of doctors from the two communities

working on the issue.

World Diabetes Day event. Health Helped doctors from the two communities toexchange information on diabetes.

Topographical study for the

Arnavut Mosque and the Church

of Archangelos Michael.

Cultural

Heritage

Provided the foundation for further restoration

work on the two sites.

Technical Committee CBMs supported by UNDP-ACT and other CBMs

Nature of CBM Implementing

Agency

Result

Opening of new crossing point. UNDP-

Partnership forthe Future (PFF)

Linked two communities that had not had

direct contact since 1974 and created additionalopportunities for contact between them.

Fiscal federalism conference. Management

Centre

Provided a forum, outside of the ofcial

negotiations, for key players in the negotiations

to explore how scal issues would be addressed

in a federation.

Two conferences on property. PRIO Cyprus Provided a safe space outside the ofcial

negotiations for discussions on the property issue

and the introduction of new ideas to key actors,

including members of the negotiating teams.

SCR 1325 Conference. PRIO Cyprus

Gender dvisory

Team (GAT)

Raised awareness on the lack of inclusion of

Security Council Resolution 13259 on women,

peace and security in the negotiations.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/


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Wat will be te lasting impact f te ACT prgramme n te searc fr peace in

Cyprus? Prgrammes supprting peace are all t ften judged by mement, r lack

f mement, in te plitical prcess; and after eigt years f supprting prjects

prmting trust between te tw cmmunities, te island still remains diided.

Years f wrk ae swn, weer, tat tere is n symbitic relatinsip between

te plitics f te cnict and te scial prcesses wic, gien te pprtunity, may

pride te impetus t island-wide recnciliatin. Transfrming te landscape f

recnciliatin in Cyprus as less t d wit te leaders psitins at te negtiatingtable, and mre t d wit assisting te tw cmmunities in naigating different

pats wic lead t mutual understanding, respect and te tangible benets f

c-peratin. Te ACT prgramme prided pprtunities fr Cyprits t design

radmaps fr cange wic tey were ten able t sare wit teir leaders and wit

te public at large.

Te cnclusin drawn frm tis wrk is tat Cyprits temseles ae demnstratedtat partnersip and c-peratin are nt nly pssible, but desirable.

CO-OPERATION MAkES

GOOD BUSINESS SENSE

In ne f te mst signicant areas f c-peratin te ACT prgramme supprted te

effrts f business leaders frm acrss te island in encuraging initiaties wic wuld

reitalise ecnmic relatins between te tw cmmunities. Te Cyprus Camber f

CYPRIoTS PRovE ThAT Co-oPERATIoN

AND CoExISTENCE ARE PoSSIBLE

wE MAY HAVE ALL COME ON

DIFFERENT SHIPS, BUT wERE

IN THE SAME BOAT NOw.

MARTIN LUThER KING, JR.

Chapter 2


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Cmmerce and Industry and te Turkis Cyprit Camber f Cmmerce recgnised

early n te alue f inter-cmmunal c-peratin. Fllwing te intrductin f teEUs Green Line Trade Regulatin in 200410, business leaders frm tese rganizatins

cse t wrk wit te ACT prgramme t translate te regulatin int tangible

cmmercial benets. TeEconomic Interdependence11 prject, wic te tw cambers

managed, put in place mecanisms designed t clse te gap between businesses in

eac cmmunity. Tese included te rst island-wide business directry and an

assciated mbile pne applicatin allwing businesses t identify ptential industry

partners in te ter cmmunity. Te tw cambers als prduced researc wic

clearly demnstrated te nancial benets f a settlement, and cmmissined teprductin f innatie lms t cmmunicate teir ndings t a wider audience.

Why should we take the given realities

for granted? Its not a far-fetched situation;

its more of a Back to the Future situation

Manthos Mavrommatis: President of The Cyprus Chamberof Commerce and Industry (in reference to The Nine OClock

News in the Year 2030 lm)

Te Economic Interdependenceprject elped t transfrm te relatinsip between

te cambers, instituting rganizatinal and attitudinal canges wic were grunded

in a genuine realizatin tat business-t-business c-peratin was a pragmatic frmf trust-building wit ptential fr mutual ecnmic benet. It was tis prfessinal

relatinsip tat paed te way fr ne f te mst signicant episdes in Greek

Cyprit-Turkis Cyprit c-peratin f recent years. In July 2011 te island

eperienced a crisis fllwing te destructin f te main electricity generating plant

in te Greek Cyprit cmmunity. Using te c-peratie mecanisms establised during

te curse f te prject, te tw cambers f cmmerce negtiated an agreement

wereby electricity frm te Turkis Cyprit cmmunity was transferred t te Greek

Cyprit cmmunity. Tis arrangement included a system fr cannelling funds and frte pysical recnnectin f te island-wide electricity grid.
http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/turkish_cypriots/green_line_regulation/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/turkish_cypriots/green_line_regulation/index_en.htmhttp://www.cpnnet.net/http://www.cpnnet.net/http://www.cpnnet.net/http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/turkish_cypriots/green_line_regulation/index_en.htm


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On 17th July 2013, in what was described

as the worst ever environmental disaster

to befall the Turkish Cypriot community,

approximately 100 tonnes of oil spilled into

the sea in an ecologically sensitive region.

The catastrophe was mitigated as a result of

the tight co-operation built across the divide

through the Economic Interdependence project.

The same day, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce

and Industry, together with the Turkish Cypriot

Chamber of Commerce, building on their strong

relationship, brokered an agreement enabling

the transfer of oil-absorbent booms from the

Greek Cypriot Community to the site of the

disaster. According to Leonidas Paschalides

from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and

Industry, The two Chambers have demonstrated

once again the crucial role they play in handling

crisis situations across the divide through

bi-communal co-operation for the benet of

all Cypriots. The focal points established by the

UNDP/USAID-funded Interdependence project

have proved to be instrumental in this direction.


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7,107,8856,728,248

4,462,536

1,680,099

2,529,425

1,577,582

1,429,335

2,179,786.84

1,139,759

8,000,000

7,000,000

6,000,000

5,000,000

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

0

July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 octber 2011 Nvember 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012

Trade in Electricity across the divide

Source: EDGE/USAID September 2012 Green Line trade analysis12

Tis episde swed w te priate sectr culd be at te frefrnt f recnciliatin

effrts, irrespectie f te state f te frmal peace prcess. oer tw years (2010-

2011) te tw cambers f cmmerce undertk a jint researc eercise t frecast

te cnditin f te Cyprit ecnmy under tw scenaris: an immediate settlement,

r a delayed settlement. Entitled Assessment of current economic interdependence

between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities and recommendations

for reinforced economic convergence13, te reprt reealed tat te leel f ecnmic

ecange acrss te diide was far mre nancially signicant tan ad been

preiusly indicated by fcial Green Line trade statistics.

It is enormously important for the business community

to do what it can to drive this process and remind people

of the benets of a solution.

Alexander Downer, Special Advisor of the Secretary General

It als cncluded tat a Cyprus settlement wuld reme many f te eisting

cnstraints t ecnmic deelpment, allwing Cyprus t better weater te glbal

ecnmic crisis. one majr recmmendatin was tat een in te absence f a frmal


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settlement trade between the two communities should be actively encouraged through

the opening of more crossing points, further harmonisation of the Turkish Cypriotcommunity with the EU acquis communautaire, the co-operation of professional

associations and the implementation of large-scale condence-building measures

proposed by the technical committees. The ndings of the report were dramatised

in a lm which explored the impact which a settlement would have on the islands

economy. Screenings of the lm, The Nine OClock News in the Year 203014, prompted

lively public discussions about the incentives for resolving the Cyprus question.

As someone who has lost faith in the peace process,

this lm has moved me for the rst time in many years.

Comment on a social media site.

Preserving a shared

natural heritage

Environmental co-operation has long been seen by the UN as having the potential

to make a major contribution to the advancement of reconciliation. The UN-wide

partnership for Environment and Security (ENVSEC15) is based on the premise that

working together on solving environmental problems is often the simplest way

to longer-term, more systematic and fundamental co-operation. Where conicts

occur, environmental co-operation may pave the way to broader solutions16. One

of the most visible examples of this phenomenon was the re-connection in the late

1970s of the sewerage system in Nicosia, which subsequently laid the foundation

for the creation of the Nicosia Master Plan17, a bi-communal structure, which

continues to strive to develop a common vision for the islands divided capital.

Many of the environmental experts who participated in this eld of bi-communalactivity concluded that the protection of Cyprus fragile natural resources depends on

a single coherent approach to the sustainable development of the island as a whole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbrk1i4xXBIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbrk1i4xXBIhttp://www.envsec.org/http://www.envsec.org/http://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep2/page/2488.aspxhttp://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep2/page/2488.aspxhttp://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/enniaio_omada_meletis.shtmhttp://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/enniaio_omada_meletis.shtmhttp://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep2/page/2488.aspxhttp://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/enniaio_omada_meletis.shtmhttp://www.envsec.org/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbrk1i4xXBI


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The ACT programme used this pragmatic assessment as the basis for a number of

projects illustrating the mutual benets of environmental co-operation. In 2006 aposter campaign at the Ledra Palace crossing in the buffer zone, entitled Nature

Without Boundaries, highlighted potential areas of co-operation, such as the

prevention of wildres, biodiversity, and public health; all areas that some years

later were addressed by the Environmental Technical Committee.

Its wrong to distinguish between north, south, east

and west, because there are no such boundaries as far

as nature is concerned.

Tuberk Emirzade, COAG member.

Some of the earliest inter-communal networks emerged through environmental concerns

about the islands farming practices. As Green Line trade became a consideration for

business people, interest grew among Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in developing

common environmental standards across the dairy and organic farming industries. The

Madison Dairy Advisory Group (MADAG) and the Cyprus Organic Advisory Group

(COAG18) were created in 2003 and 2005 respectively to provide vehicles for this form

of co-operation at a time when the concept of corporate environmental responsibility

in Cyprus was in its infancy19. The COAG and MADAG efforts paved the way for a

range of environmental CBMs led by the private sector as Green Line trade developed,

with a MADAG proposal for inter-communal co-operation whey management20 nding

a place in technical committee discussions on condence-building during 2012-2013.

Civil society participation increased as a result of these efforts and took the form of

hybrid projects in which technical leadership was provided by appropriately qualied

experts, but where CSOs took charge of the ensuing public awareness campaigns.

One project which illustrated this approach was entitled Innovative Biological

Approaches for the Reforestation of Environmentally Stressed Sites (IBARESS)21

,and involved reforestation experts, academics and environmental NGOs from both

communities. In another case, teams of scientists collaborated on a bi-communal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ex9h6Vx2yc&list=PL6764A0A17F1F86F0&index=20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ex9h6Vx2yc&list=PL6764A0A17F1F86F0&index=20http://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/cer_en.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/ACT_Final%20Report_Whey%20management.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/ACT_Final%20Report_Whey%20management.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/pfs_pim002_ibaress_ii_gc.dochttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/pfs_pim002_ibaress_ii_gc.dochttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/ACT_Final%20Report_Whey%20management.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/cer_en.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/pfs_pim002_ibaress_ii_gc.dochttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/pfs_pim002_ibaress_ii_gc.dochttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ex9h6Vx2yc&list=PL6764A0A17F1F86F0&index=20


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research project to map the biological diversity of the de-militarised UN buffer zone22.

The project, which received international media attention, uncovered the naturaltreasures of the buffer zone, which had remained hidden for over three decades, thus

demonstrating the value of co-operation and how the natural heritage of the island could

not be protected by one community alone. Emboldened by the success of this work,

the scientists broadened their collaboration to include other initiatives, such as the

rst ever joint survey of water birds23 across the island since the 1970s and a

series of environmental awareness campaigns.

nature and the environment can bring the two

communities together and contribute towards building

co-operation and trust.

Costas Kadis, member of the CESF and team leader

of the Environmental Technical Committee.

Environmental co-operation under the ACT programme demonstrated the necessity of

public participation in environmental decision-making; this is already a well-established

principle in international law, as specied in the Aarhus Convention24 and the EU

Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive25. More importantly, it corresponds to

a strong desire by Cypriots to be consulted in decision-making, especially as regards

the peace process. In response to a 2008 survey26 which showed that most Cypriots felt

they were not being properly informed or consulted on important environmental issues,

the ACT programme supported a range of public consultations in towns and villages

across the island. This culminated in a study (conducted by the Cyprus 2015 project),

which led to the proposal of a set of CBMs to ensure the sustainable development of the

island based on common concerns; these included the development of an eco-city and

the installation of a photo-voltaic facility in thebuffer zone27 to generate solar power

for island-wide use.
http://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/waterbirds%20book%20final.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/waterbirds%20book%20final.pdfhttp://www.unece.org/env/pp/introduction.htmlhttp://www.unece.org/env/pp/introduction.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/sea-legalcontext.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/sea-legalcontext.htmhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=6%3Areports&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=6%3Areports&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=6%3Areports&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/sea-legalcontext.htmhttp://www.unece.org/env/pp/introduction.htmlhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/articles/waterbirds%20book%20final.pdf


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ACTs support eventually led to the formation of the

Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum (CESF28)

the rst inter-communal environmental advocacy

network bringing together academics, journalists,

civil society leaders and others to demonstrate the

importance of an inter-communal vision to protect

the islands shared natural heritage. Launched in

2007, with the support of the Cyprus Technical

Chamber (ETEK) and the Union of the Chambers

of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects

(KTMMOB), the network became an advocacy

success when its representatives participated in

a major policy-making event. The CESF became

the rst bi-communal group to address the

Commission on Sustainable Development29 at

the United Nations in New York in 2007. This

opportunity for a direct input into the formulationof global environmental policy demonstrated the

power of co-operation and the potential of civil

society and academics to pioneer reconciliation

efforts. One year later members of the CESF were

appointed to the newly-formed EnvironmentalTechnical Committee.
http://www.cyef.net/http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=4773&catid=7&typeid=46http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=4773&catid=7&typeid=46http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=4773&catid=7&typeid=46http://www.cyef.net/http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=4773&catid=7&typeid=46


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Keepers of each

others culture

Cypriot culture is among the oldest in the world. The rst signs of civilization date

back to the 7th millennium BC. The islands rich cultural landscape includes hundreds

of archaeological sites. The ACT programme invested in preserving this heritage

through projects which were designed to ensure the integrity and protection of culturally

important sites whilst serving to bring the two communities together within a framework

of concrete collaboration. This combined approach constitutes a unique contribution tothe preservation of the rich cultural heritage of all communities in Cyprus.

The shared objective of the cultural heritage restoration projects was to give all

communities on the island a chance to take pride in the rich and diverse cultural heritage

around them while gaining rst-hand experience of how co-operation across communal

lines can build interpersonal trust. The tangibility of restoration projects helped local

communities to re-imagine the physical spaces around them and gave a meaningfulcontext in which participants could pursue contact with members of the other

communities. The departure points for these journeys were often professional

with architects, engineers and planners working together but through the process

of collaborating on the design and implementation of projects, individuals came to

trust their counterparts in the other community, rst as fellow professionals and later

as friends. Close interaction with the other community often compelled people to

revisit their own prejudices and in many cases individual attitudes were changed.

The ACT programme was courageous enough to experiment with cultural heritage

initiatives and the most successful projects were those which embraced the

participation of local people and allowed community-based organizations to take

the lead in project design and implementation. The Cultural Heritage Preservation

Circle project30, implemented by the Kontea Heritage Foundation and the Union of

the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB), is one of the

best examples of how this worked in practice. The lessons learned from participatorycultural heritage projects like this were used to develop other similar initiatives

seeking to reconnect Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots around shared spaces31.
http://konteaheritage.com/http://konteaheritage.com/http://konteaheritage.com/http://konteaheritage.com/http://issuu.com/undp_in_europe_cis/docs/future_together_researchhttp://issuu.com/undp_in_europe_cis/docs/future_together_researchhttp://issuu.com/undp_in_europe_cis/docs/future_together_researchhttp://konteaheritage.com/http://konteaheritage.com/


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Cultural heritage sites restored through support from UNDP-ACT,

2006-2012

Name Description

Grand Turkis Bat. Built n te ruins f a Latin Curc by te ottmans between 1571 and

1590, tis building as istrically been f great symblic imprtance in

Cyprit cultural life.

Prpet Elias Curc

and Mnastery.

Te hly Marnite/Catlic Curc f Prpet Elias is bt a majr

religius mnument fr many Cyprits and a spiritual and educatinal

centre. Basic repairs and fencing f te site were carried ut.

Ayis Nepyts Capel. Lcated in te buffer zne, tis listed mnument was restred t its

frmer state by te Department f Antiquities. In c-rdinatin wit lcal

residents and te UN access was made pssible fr ccasinal isits and

fr maintenance.

Faieru Day Care Centre. Te restred Faieru Day Care Centre prides reabilitatin and

educatinal facilities fr peple wit a range f disabilities. Lcated

near Paps Gate, te centre seres bt cmmunities. Its peratinal

pilspy is based n understanding, respect, friendsip and mutual

acceptance, making it unique in te eld f specialised care.

Multi-purpse

Cmmunity Centre.

Tis traditinal mudbrick building was built in te early part f te

last century. Since its restratin it as been used as a cultural and

enirnmental centre.

Cultural heritage

Preseratin Circle prject.

Te prject included te cnstructin f a peace park and te

restratin f a illage curtyard. Te prject cntinues t pride

pprtunities fr many inter-cmmunal gaterings and t inspire ter

illages.

Armenian Curc

and Mnastery.

Lcated in te Arabamet neigburd, tis 14t century Gtic

mnument was restred t its frmer glry. Te prject inled te

Armenian Cyprit cmmunity and eperts frm te lcal cmmunity in

Cyprus and erseas.

Centre fr visual Arts

and Researc.

Tis ld ur mill will be restred as an arts and researc centre,

and will pride a space fr te Sharing History, Art, Research and

Education prject (ShARE).


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Through the Cultural Heritage Preservation Circle

project, UNDP-ACT supported the work of Greek

Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots committed to

restoring a set of cherished cultural heritage sites,

some of which date back to the 12th century.

The project adopted an inclusive approach

to public consultation with town meetings,exhibitions, networks for conveying information

and receiving feedback and was structured around

joint decision-making by parallel Turkish Cypriot

and Greek Cypriot management committees. These

mechanisms enabled the project to pioneer a locallyowned participatory decision-making model to foster

reconciliation and instil condence in the prospect

of reversing the islands division. Designed jointly

by local leaders in the communities, the project

demonstrated how combining reconciliation and

citizen participation in decision-making around

tangible assets of common signicance can

transform the conict dynamic into one of

mutual respect and shared values.


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Wen te cmmunity leaders Dimitris Cristas and Memet Ali Talat restarted

negtiatins t resle te Cyprus cnict in 2008, UNDP and USAID decided te

ACT prgramme needed t reect te new plitical climate if it was t pride ptimum

supprt fr ciil sciety in te recnciliatin prcess. At te time, te prgrammes

wrk was cnsidered imprtant fr te creatin f a scietal climate wic wuld

facilitate fcial negtiatins, including te implementatin f mutually agreed CBMs.

In 2009 te ACT prgramme adpted a plicy f assisting ciil sciety t prepare fr

engagement bt in te peace prcess and in a ptential pst-settlement pase. UNDP

and USAID agreed t wrk wit ciil sciety rganizatins t elp facilitate te full

engagement f all Cyprits wit te peace prcess and t feed citizen pinins int tat

prcess trug frmal and infrmal mecanisms. T succeed, tis required an apprac

wic empasized plicy dialgue, adcacy and te pursuit f gd gernance,

all elements inerent in participatry peace-making. Embarking n tis stage f te

jurney UNDP, USAID and teir Cyprit partners deelped a cnsensus tat a durableslutin t te Cyprus questin must be Cyprit-wned; but tat wnersip must lie

as muc wit te peple f te island as wit te pliticians w wuld brker a deal.

CITIZENS PLAY ThEIR PART IN ThE SEARCh FoR PEACE

I THINk THAT PEOPLE wANT

PEACE SO MUCH THAT ONE OF

THESE DAYS GOVERNMENT HAD

BETTER GET OUT OF THEIR wAY

AND LET THEM HAVE IT.

DWIGhT D. EISENhoWER

Chapter 3


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THE EMERGENCE OF A

PEACE-BUILDING CIVILSOCIETY SECTOR

Te ACT prgramme supprted ciil sciety peace-builders w wanted t make te

debate n peace a part f te ppular discurse acrss te island. oer time Greek

Cyprit and Turkis Cyprit CSos graduated frm being te managers f discrete

interactins between like-minded prpnents f bi-cmmunal c-peratin, t becmepractie adcates f island-wide recnciliatin. By 2013 a relatiely mature debate

n te rle f ciil sciety ad becme rted in te mainstream media n te island;

smeting wic 10 years preiusly wuld ae been tugt imprbable. As a

result, ciil sciety rganizatins came t be iewed as ne f te mst imprtant

ices in te prmtin f inter-cmmunal recnciliatin. hweer, wile teir

wrk culd be seen as supprting te traditinal plitical peace prcess, as practised

by te plitical elite, it is neiter dened by tat prcess nr dependent upn it.

Without grassroots dynamism and support, it will be

difcult to reinitiate talks, let alone bring about their

successful conclusion. A more participatory framework

will allow multiple processes to progress in parallel,

leading to cumulative progress in internal and international

substantive dossiers while simultaneously building societal

trust. Building trust in the process and in each other is as

important as brokering a deal.

Erol Kaymak, Senior Researcher, The Center for Sustainable Peace

and Democratic Development (SeeD)

Te ACT prgramme elped lay te fundatins fr a mre cerent and cal

peace-building ciil sciety sectr trug a series f capacity deelpment initiaties.


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Members f Te Elders Grup were te guests

f nur at te fcial pening f te Cyprus

Cmmunity Media Centre.Te ENGAGE prject epanded public discurse n te current peace prcess

by rganizing a series f discussins n te cncept f federalism attended by

te Special Adiser f te Secretary-General.

Multicultural yut camps elped yung peple t callenge steretypes and build trust.

Te Pwer f one inter-reginal cnference brugt tgeter200 participants frm 28 cuntries t discuss citizen-led

innatin and scial cange.

UNDP-ACT slar panel installatin in te UN Prtected Area.


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Wit te slgan Were teres a will teres a way te 2007 Ciil Sciety fair attracted media attentin wit its message f c-peratin.

Te 2007 Ciil Sciety Fair brugt tgeter tusands f ciil sciety actiists in te Buffer Zne.


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Celebrating te cmpletin f a cultural eritage restratin prject.

Te fully restred hme fr C-peratin in te UN Buffer Zne.

Initatin t te launc f Te Studi

Cyprus rst inter-cmmunalisland-wide bradcasting facility.


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Te tw leaders plant lie trees dnated by ciil sciety

in supprt f te resumptin f peace talks in 2008.


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Ciil sciety declaratin in supprt f resumptin f peace talks in 2008.

Te ENGAGE n te me NGo fairs tk place in arius lcatins arund te island.


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Cultural heritage Preseratin Circle prject: befre and after pts.

Internal iew f te restred Armenian Curc and Mnastery.

Eternal iew f te restred Armenian Curc and Mnastery.


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Te newly restred Grand Turkis Bat.


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Training pster fr Cyprus Cmmunity Media Centre.

Tgeter Anyting is Pssible Yut Camp by KAYAD.

Yut Dialgue Prject calls yung peple t actin.


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Te rst prize winner receies is award at te

Sting Reality Film Festial.

Members f te Gender Adisry Team launc teir recmmendatins

fr impring gender perspecties in te peace prcess.

Increasing te media skills f ciil sciety at te Cyprus Cmmunity Media Centre.

Initatin t rst eent fr Maallae.

Members f te Yut Adisry Bard prudly launc te rst

human Deelpment Reprt n Yut in Cyprus.


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Te Cyprit Puzzle eibitin traelled t cities arund te island.

Te Cyprus Critical histry Arcie gies access t digitized articles relating t inter-cmmunal relatins in Cyprus.


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Yut Pwer small grants gae lcal yut NGos a cance t celebrate and cllabrate.

Cyprus organic Adisry Grup at te State Fair.

Te Ciil Sciety Awards gae recgnitin t te wrk f

grassrts rganisatins wrking acrss te diide in Cyprus.

Yut Pwer partners tk part in te glbal Eartdance eent in 2009.

Sting Reality yung lmmakers

cmpetitin annuncement.

Pster frm te Yut Pwer

celebratin eent.

Wrld AIDS Day eent, Cyprus Against

AIDS by te Tecnical Cmmittee n

healt Matters.


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Beind te scenes during te lming f vices f Tmrrw: Yut in Cyprus.

Gardas yut camp participants interacting trug teatre.


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Cildren celebrate te rst birtday fr te hme fr C-peratin in 2012.

Celebrating Cyprit culture under te Future Tgeter prject.


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Te tw leaders jin fcials frm te UN and te dnr cmmunity

t celebrate te pening f a new crssing pint in 2010.

Greek Cyprit and Turkis ciil sciety leaders address te Britis huse f Cmmns n 15 May 2012.


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Te pening f te Nature witut Bundaries utdr eibitin in 2006.

Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits celebrate Wrld Water Day 2011.


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opening f te Peace Park as part f te Cultural heritage Preseratin Circle prject.

A UN sldier lks n as te tw leaders fcially pen te hme fr C-peratin.

Initatin t te screening f te

Te Nine oclck News in te year 2030.


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one f te majr milestnes was Cyprus rst International Civil Society Fair: Open

Voices Active Citizens32

(2007). Te fair tk place in te etinkaya ftball pitc inte UN buffer zne and attracted er 2,000 participants. It was ailed as te biggest

bi-cmmunal eent n te island at tat time. Te fairs slgan Were teres a will

teres a way epressed te aspiratins f ciil sciety actiists w sugt t reac

ut t teir peers frm te ter cmmunity and tgeter t nd ways f raising te

ices f citizens trug ciic participatin and engagement. Many f te ciil sciety

rganizatins taking part ad already eperienced sme bi-cmmunal cntact befre

te fair, but UNDP-ACT recgnised tat tere was a cmmn desire amngst ciil

sciety actrs t bring sme crdinatin t teir wrk. Te fair marked te beginningf te creatin f a public space fr te epressin f slidarity between Greek Cyprits

and Turkis Cyprits and allwed CSos t psitin temseles as part f an inter-

cmmunal scial mement tat culd speak cllectiely fr te public interest f bt

cmmunities.

At te same time UNDP-ACT launced its $1.8 millin Civil Society Strengthening

Programme (CSSP)33. Implemented by a cnsrtium led by te Internatinal Training

and Researc Centre (INTRAC UK) in partnersip wit tw Cyprit CSos te

Management Centre f te Mediterranean (MC-MED)34 and teNGo Supprt Centre35

te tw-year prgramme engaged er 200 CSos in a series f structured capacity

building actiities wic fcused n enancing te effectieness f participating

NGos. At its cnclusin UNDP-ACT identied a cre netwrk f well-structured

CSos wic ad demnstrated te institutinal knwledge and capacity t lead te

sectr int an area f rapid grwt and impact. A majr success tat arse directly frm

tis eperience was tat a number f te inter-cmmunal partnersips frged under

te auspices f te CSo Fair and CSSP went n t successfully mbilise additinal

resurces frm ter dnrs including te EU.

Te success f tese initiaties elped ciil sciety leaders understand te alue f

reclaiming te gegrapical spaces wic ad istrically dened te islands diisin.

Fr years, te nly enues fr bi-cmmunal cllabratin and dialgue ad been teUNFICYP-cntrlled Ledra Palace htel alng wit te Gete and Fulbrigt Centres

in Marku Draku Street. But after 2009 tis area began t pen up, transfrming
http://www.undp-act.org/default.aspx?tabid=104&it=1&mid=789&itemid=0&langid=1&extraId=40http://www.undp-act.org/default.aspx?tabid=104&it=1&mid=789&itemid=0&langid=1&extraId=40http://www.undp-act.org/default.aspx?tabid=104&it=1&mid=789&itemid=0&langid=1&extraId=40http://www.intrac.org/pages/en/ccssp2008.htmlhttp://www.intrac.org/pages/en/ccssp2008.htmlhttp://www.mc-med.eu/http://www.mc-med.eu/http://www.ngo-sc.org/http://www.ngo-sc.org/http://www.ngo-sc.org/http://www.mc-med.eu/http://www.intrac.org/pages/en/ccssp2008.htmlhttp://www.intrac.org/pages/en/ccssp2008.htmlhttp://www.undp-act.org/default.aspx?tabid=104&it=1&mid=789&itemid=0&langid=1&extraId=40http://www.undp-act.org/default.aspx?tabid=104&it=1&mid=789&itemid=0&langid=1&extraId=40


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te crssing pint int a ie f peace-building actiity. Tday, te hme fr

C-peratin36

, te Cyprus Cmmunity Media Centre37

(CCMC), and te EU MeetingPint38 ffer Cyprits frm all walks f life pysical sared spaces were te

cmmunities can meet and cllabrate. Te ACT prgramme played its part in

canging te buffer znes gegrapy by establising te CCMC facility and entering

int an agreement wit te Assciatin fr histrical Dialgue and Researc39

(AhDR) and te Nrwegian gernment t supprt prjects wic wuld be managed

frm te reabilitated hme fr C-peratin. Indeed te ACT prgramme ften

used te cnergent spaces alng te Green Line t bring te tw cmmunities

tgeter arund a ariety f peple-t-peple cntact eents including wrksps,art eibitins, sprts tures, lm festials and perfrmances. Priding Cyprits

wit te cance t reclaim te diided space alng te buffer zne became a key

drier in te deelpment f a cesie ciil sciety mement. Anter testament

t tis transfrmatin was te emergence f a number f rganizatins wic

became grunded in a Cyprit rater tan a Greek Cyprit r a Turkis Cyprit

identity. organizatins suc as CCMC, AhDR, Yut Pwer40 and te Centre fr

Sustainable Peace and Demcratic Deelpment41 (SeeD), played a aluable part in

te creatin f te fundatins fr an inter-cmmunal ciil sciety peace-building

sectr n te island.

Purchasing and renovating a dilapidated building

in no mans land and turning it to the Home for

Co-operation was in no way an easy endeavor.

And yet, this was just the very rst step of a long lasting

and demanding journey towards the realization of an

ambitious vision: to question the current use of the so

called dead zone, through its transformation into a space

of co-operation, a forum of contact and dialogue, based

on solidarity, and the promotion of mutual respect and

understanding, amongst all people in CyprusKyriakos Pachoulides, President,

The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research
http://www.home4cooperation.info/http://www.home4cooperation.info/http://www.cypruscommunitymedia.org/https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meeting-Point/224405661032686?hc_location=streamhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meeting-Point/224405661032686?hc_location=streamhttp://ahdr.info/home.phphttp://youthpowercyprus.org/http://seedsofpeace.eu/http://seedsofpeace.eu/http://seedsofpeace.eu/http://seedsofpeace.eu/http://youthpowercyprus.org/http://ahdr.info/home.phphttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meeting-Point/224405661032686?hc_location=streamhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Meeting-Point/224405661032686?hc_location=streamhttp://www.cypruscommunitymedia.org/http://www.home4cooperation.info/http://www.home4cooperation.info/


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Bringing people into

the peace process

UNDP and USAIDs policy of creating opportunities for citizens to make their voices

heard on the islands future was endorsed both inside and outside Cyprus. The call

for citizens to be partners in the Cyprus peace process was championed by successive

United Nations secretary generals, who made direct requests to the islands leaders to

fully involve civil society in the peace process. Recognizing that civil society in Cyprus,

as in many parts of the world, needed to be a legitimate partner in decision-making

and policy formulation, the ACT programme sought to be as inclusive as possible and

invited people from all walks of life to join in the development of policy options for

reconciliation between the two communities. As a result, for the rst time, creative

avenues for addressing the Cyprus conict were opened up, allowing ordinary people

to be part of the debate of the future of the island. The effect was to deepen the quality

of democracy in Cyprus as the agenda for building cooperative structures across the

Green Line broadened beyond professional negotiators and traditional peace activists.

Previous unsuccessful attempts to reach a settlement on the island had convinced

many that Cyprus needed to emulate successful peace processes in other parts of

the world which had emphasised public participation in negotiation, trust building

and socio-political transition. In 2009 UNDP-ACT launched projects aimed at

helping civil society to bridge the gap between citizens and the policy-making elite.

One vehicle for this was the Cyprus 2015

42

project, which used peace pollingand participatory action research43 approaches to measure public opinion towards

the negotiating positions of the two leaders, and to enable them to make informed

decisions based on this knowledge. Over four years, the project built a very concise

picture of citizens attitudes towards what they felt would make a settlement work

for the people of the island. In addition the wealth of survey data and public polling

conrmed the widely held belief that the Cyprus peace process was detached from

the concerns of the general public, with the overwhelming majority of Cypriots in

both communities believing that the leaders ignored their opinions on the negotiationprocess, despite a widespread desire to be consulted on such majorpolicy decisions44.
http://cyprus2015.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_action_researchhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_action_researchhttp://cyprus2015.org/


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Extent to which the voice of citizens is heard by the leaders

in the negotiation process-Source: Cyprus 2015, 201245

Opinion on whether citizens should be consulted

on major policy decisions-Source: Cyprus 2015, 201246
http://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=9%3Apublic-opinion-poll-2012&Itemid=34&lang=en


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The results of these surveys were utilized to produce periodic high-level policy briefs

that were given directly to the negotiating teams. In January 2012, the Cyprus 2015team produced a brief, entitled Negotiating the Core Issues47, which was discussed by

the leaders at the Greentree II meeting in New York. The project became the only

genuine gauge of ordinary Cypriots opinions of their leaders management of the peace

process, and while negotiations were taking place, it was the only channel providing

the leaderships with evidence-based analysis of constituents reactions to their respective

negotiating positions.

UNDP-ACT used several other mechanisms to help expand the arena for citizens

exposure to, and participation in, the peace negotiations. One of these was a set of

public debates on a federal solution based on the High Level Agreements of 1977 and

197948, which form the current basis for the negotiations between the two leaders. The

meetings involved the Special Advisor of the UN Secretary-General and were intended

to inform Cypriot citizens about the implications of a federal solution and the way

it would affect their lives. The forums highlighted the need for political leaders to

discuss the meaning of a federal solution with their respective constituents. The tworepresentatives of the leaders were invited at different times to support and participate

in civil society-led events and discussion forums. In February 2012 theENGAGE, Do

Your Part for Peace49project invited the Leaders Representatives, George Iacovou

and Kudret zersay, to discuss the important role played by NGOs in informing the

public about the challenges and opportunities for a comprehensive settlement. After

several years of civil society activity, bi-communal projects and advocacy the event

helped to formally recognize the role of CSOs in bridging the gap both between the

two communities and, mono-communally, between the political elites and the

general public.

The ENGAGE project launched its Active Dialogue Networks (ADNs) in 2011

with the aim of bringing the reconciliation process to local communities around

the island. The project focussed on towns and villages not usually associated

with bi-communal activities, and encompassed a number of rural areas in bothcommunities. The ADNs provided opportunities for communities to connect their

local realities with a broader perspective on the implications of a political
http://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=8%3Apolicy-brief&Itemid=34&lang=enhttp://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.engage4peace.org/http://www.engage4peace.org/http://www.greece.org/cyprus/UNRes37253.htmhttp://www.engage4peace.org/http://www.engage4peace.org/http://www.cyprus2015.org/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=8%3Apolicy-brief&Itemid=34&lang=en


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The conference Womens Peace: Applying

the UN Security Council Resolution 1325

to Cyprus and the Region held in December2012 highlighted the importance of womens

participation in peace processes.

I think that the UN needs to advocate for

a quota system for women that will actually

have a greater chance of delivering a

demilitarised peace in Cyprus.

Olga Demetriou,PRIO Cyprus Centre

UN women should recruit a representative

to represent Cyprus as soon as possible with

appropriate resources to support the inclusion

of gender perspectives into the peace process

and womens political engagement.

Biran Mertan,Gender Advisory Team

We would like the UN to encourage and support

specic training for men on gender equality and

to raise awareness of the importance of womens

political participation.

Nadia Karayianni,NGO Support Centre


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settlement. Structured around local community dialogues, activities involved civil

society representatives, academics, business people, journalists and local ofcialsdiscussing a number of core issues related to gender, peace and reconciliation,

sustainable development and civil society. The open dialogue methodology

encouraged consensus on a series of local development priorities subsequently

written up in the form of advocacy papers which ENGAGE later discussed with local

leaders and decision-makers.

The open dialogue format enshrined in the ADNs was also adopted as a useful wayof working by Cypriot women who wanted to engage the leaders on the application

of Security Council Resolution 132550 (2000) to the negotiations and to the larger

issue of reconciliation between the communities. Security Council Resolution

1325 requests UN Member States to protect the rights of women and girls in armed

conict and ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making

levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the

prevention, management, and resolution of conict. For the Cypriot civil society

peace-building movement a public debate about SCR 1325 offered opportunities tourge the leaders to embrace gender considerations as part of the ofcial peace

process, while at the same time creating entry points for a more public approach

to the management of the process itself.

The ACT programme responded to these developments by supporting an initial

assessment of the role of gender in the peace process and wider reconciliation

efforts. This led to the formation of a Gender Advisory Team51(2009) of local women

activists who collaborated on ways of foregrounding gender issues in both formal

and informal peace processes. The GAT collaborated with UNDP-ACT and the

Peace Research Institute of Oslo52 (PRIO) to develop a series of recommendations on

incorporating gender concerns into the governance chapter of the negotiations; these

were disseminated at a conference in Nicosia in December 2012 called Womens

Peace: Applying the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 to Cyprus

and the Region53.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/http://www.gat1325.org/http://www.prio.no/Cyprushttp://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/http://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://media.wix.com/ugd/553524_7ac79c667b09943ec66546c610fa1b6b.pdfhttp://www.prio.no/Cyprushttp://www.gat1325.org/


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CIvIL SoCIETY oRGANISATIoNS IMAGINE NEW

NARRATIvES oF ThE FUTURE

ALL OF US IN CYPRUS, GREEk

CYPRIOTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE DEAD

ZONE, TURkISH CYPRIOTS ON THE

OTHER, ARE OBSESSED wITH ONE

QUESTION. wHO IS TO BLAME?

YIANNIS PAPADAKIS,

EChoES FRoM ThE DEAD ZoNE

Te pysical separatin f Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits is underpinned

by a psyclgical diisin rted in tw irrecncilable narraties f te past. Te

language f te Cyprus cnict cnslidates te dminant sci-plitical psitins

f te cmmunities and is te currency wic gerns teir day-t-day relatins;

funded as it is n a principle f mutual nn-recgnitin. Despite te eistence f seen

crssing pints alng te Green Line and a steady stream f Cyprits crssing frm

ne side t te ter since 2003 (er 20 millin crssings ae been recrded), te

leel f trust between te tw cmmunities remains lw, wile te quality f

peple-t-peple cntact as impred little er te years. Sureys sw tat

nly 17% f Greek Cyprits ae persnal cntact wit Turkis Cyprits wile

32% f te numerically smaller Turkis Cyprits ae persnal cntact wit Greek

Cyprits. In terms f penness t te principle f ceistence, just er alf f GreekCyprits wuld accept aing neigburs r clleagues frm te ter cmmunity

and wuld be willing fr teir cildren t attend mied scls. Te majrity f

Turkis Cyprits, weer, reject tese mdels f ceistence, and bt sides

erwelmingly reject te pssibility f aing a bss frm te ter cmmunity

and disappre f mied marriages fr teir cildren/siblings54. Te psyclgy

f diisin translates int limited scial interactin and in eac cmmunity te

assumptin is tat te ter side is t blame fr te cnict and its cnsequences.

Chapter 4


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Types of contact with people from the other community

Source: UNDP-ACT 2013 Trust Surveys

Greek Cyprit Cmmunity

Turkis Cyprit Cmmunity


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Tis reality is reected by te media in bt cmmunities, wic perpetuate te

dminant narratie f mistrust. Jurnalists reliance n te serices prided bypress fces and news agencies means tat bt print and bradcast media stries

rarely transcend te dminant retric f eac cmmunity and gie minimal space t

alternatie ices. Te use f tw different languages (Greek and Turkis) furter

cntributes t a lack f understanding, and many media utlets marginalise stries n

peace-building, ciil sciety actiities, diersity and multiculturalism, wile scial,

ecnmic, and enirnmental issues tat cncern bt cmmunities are gien irtually

n cerage.

CREATING ALTERNATIVE

PUBLIC DISCOURSES

Te ACT prgramme respnded by elping ciil sciety partners t create pysical

and irtual spaces were peple culd eplre te relatinsip between te tw

cmmunities witut being tied by te cnstraints f te dminant narratie. Starting

in 2007 UNDP-ACT funded seeral large-scale initiaties wic attempted t reerse

te psyclgy f diisin by giing Cyprits te freedm and resurces t imagine

and articulate a future isin f te island witut te cnict. Tese initiaties went

sme way t epunge many f te negatie assciatins linked t bi-cmmunal

actiities and t prmte te rle f ciil sciety as a partner t te public and priate

sectrs. Te effrt paid diidends as inter-cmmunal dialgue as since becme

widely accepted. Accrding t a majrity f Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits,

participatin in bi-cmmunal eents as ad a psitie impact n te leel f trust

wile te majrity f Greek Cyprits (74%) and Turkis Cyprits (69%) credit bi-

cmmunal actiities wit aing elped te tw cmmunities cme clser tgeter55.

A majr acieement was te establisment in 2009 f te Cyprus Cmmunity Media

Centre56 (CCMC). Tis arse trug ciil sciety-led cmmunicatins initiaties

wic ad been supprted by UNDP-ACT er seeral years. CCMC quickly became ane-stp-sp fr inter-cmmunal media cllabratin and a resurce fr ciil sciety-

led adcacy. Te rganisatin elped t institutinalise an alternatie discurse n te
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Cyprus cnict by canging te language used t articulate inter-cmmunal relatins,

and dispelling many f te myts and misappreensins tat ad built up arundtat relatinsip.

Getting 22 different organisations to agree on a vision

was no small task and involved all our skills of patience,

negotiation and communication. Since then we have grown

to 43 organisations we call our members, and this growthsignies the belief in our work and the good that can come

from working together.

Larry Fergeson, General Manager of Cyprus Community Media Centre

CCMC was able t cllabrate wit mainstream media in te c-prductin f

teleisin and radi prgrammes, as well as regular clumns in majr newspapers.CCMC fcussed n citizen jurnalism and enanced media literacy, empwering

CSos t create and distribute teir wn media cntent. As a result, it als canged

te way ciil sciety cmmunicates wit an epanded audience, by generating a

mre inclusie and better infrmed public dialgue. In 2013 te ACT prgramme

nanced CCMCs bi-cmmunal internet bradcasting facility based in te UN

buffer zne, te rst f its kind in Cyprus. Te Studi prduces prgrammes wic

pride Cyprits wit a neutral surce f news and infrmatin n issues t d

wit peace and recnciliatin, and ter deelpments in te tw cmmunities.

It als bradcasts MYCYradio - Cyprus rst multilingual web radi funded by te

Eurpean Cmmissin representatin in Cyprus.


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The partnership with youth organisations reected

a long-term emphasis on young people which ran

throughout the ACT programme. Empowering the

young to create new discourses on the future of Cyprus

in schools, colleges, universities, clubs and among

friends was considered essential to the creation of

a conducive climate for reconciliation. The ability of

people-to-people contact to break down barriers and

reverse prejudices was more evident among youth

participants in ACTs peace-building projects than with

any other constituency. Surveys showed that of the

1,600 active participants in the ACT-supported youth

peer learning programme between 2006-2008, the vast

majority (90%) made friends and exchanged contacts

with someone from the other community, and of these

over 80% maintained that contact after the end of the

project, either through internet chat, phone contact

or meeting socially. Young people were involved in

projects which addressed youth delinquency, sports

for personal development, road safety, special needs

education, multicultural education, inter-communal

arts and culture, and explorations of the aspirationsof Cypriot youth.


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Anter area were te ACT prgramme was able t diersify public discurse was

in te apprac t istry teacing. UNDP-ACT wrked clsely wit teAssociationfor Historical Dialogue and Research57 t supprt prfessinal educatrs frm bt

cmmunities in mdernizing te educatin system. Trug te Multiperspectivity

and Intercultural Dialogue in Education58 prject, AhDR deelped supplementary

educatinal materials n te Ottoman period59, traditional games60, and mixed

villages61 as well as encuraging new metdlgical appraces wit publicatins

suc asLearning to investigate the history of Cyprus through artefacts62,andThinking

historically about missing persons63. Te prject intrduced seeral undred teacers

t mre balanced ways f istry teacing in teir respectie cmmunities and tepssibility f adpting perspecties wic accmmdated te perceptins and realities

f te ter cmmunity. In 2010-2011 AhDR ran a public awareness campaign wit

teleised public serice annuncements prmting te alues f critical tinking and

carrying te slgan Questin, Eamine, Tink Critically64. Tday AhDR manages

te hme fr C-peratin, were te rganizatin is undertaking grund-breaking

wrk t digitally arcie primary surce material n inter-cmmunal relatins.

I personally am proud of being part of a team of Greek

Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots working together towards

a common goal and setting a very good example to our

leaders, our communities and future generations.

We interact on a day-to-day basis and yet we showcase

how preconceptions of the so-called others can beovercome in time and space. Each day I am excited about

going to work, I do what I believe and I am condent that

by doing this I am inuencing young people and beyond.

Alev Tuberk, AHDR-MIDE Educational Director

Yut prjects ae demnstrated te energy wic yung Cyprits can bring trecnciliatin. In an attempt t arness tat creatiity and entusiasm pprtunities

were created fr yung peple t participate in leadersip skills training s tey culd
http://ahdr.info/home.phphttp://ahdr.info/home.phphttp://ahdr.info/viewarticle.php?aid=70http://ahdr.info/viewarticle.php?aid=70http://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_ottoman_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/games_8_greekhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_mixed_villages_rr_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_mixed_villages_rr_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_artifacts_student_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/missing_ppl_s1http://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/missing_ppl_s1http://www.ahdr.info/viewarticlesub.php?scid=26http://www.ahdr.info/viewarticlesub.php?scid=26http://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/missing_ppl_s1http://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/missing_ppl_s1http://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_artifacts_student_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_mixed_villages_rr_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_mixed_villages_rr_enhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/games_8_greekhttp://issuu.com/ahdr/docs/low_ottoman_enhttp://ahdr.info/viewarticle.php?aid=70http://ahdr.info/viewarticle.php?aid=70http://ahdr.info/home.phphttp://ahdr.info/home.php


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becme ambassadrs fr peace, using teir persnal eperiences t inuence a brader

public debate. Witin tis cntet Cyprus main yut NGos and yut-afliatedrganizatins decided tey wuld ae greater impact if tey wrked tgeter under

te cmmn umbrella f te Cyprus Netwrk fr Yut Deelpment, subsequently

renamed te Yut Pwer Netwrk65. Yut Pwer empasised te needs f yung

Cyprits and gae rise t a series f small grants prgrammes. Te prject was

caracterised by innatie appraces t peace-building, and reaced ut t yung

peple w ad neer preiusly been inled in bi-cmmunal actiities.

Te 2009 Cyprus human Deelpment Reprt66 n yung peple swed tat a

majrity f yung Cyprits belieed tey ad a respnsibility t elp nd a peaceful

slutin t te islands diisin, weer many did nt knw w t get inled,

r belieed pprtunities fr tem t becme actie were limited. Te reprt als

demnstrated tat yung Cyprits felt tey ae little cance t inuence decisins

wic gern teir lies, and a large prprtin beliee tat yung Cyprits are

insufciently represented in plitics. on te ter and almst alf f Cyprit yut

admitted tat tey d nt actiely participate in any sci-plitical r public gd

rganisatin. original researc was cnducted trug etensie plling f yung

Cyprits acrss te island, wile a Yut Adisry Bard made up f 24 yung

Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits met regularly t discuss te researc, ensuring

te genuine pinins f yung peple were fremst in te temes, analysis and

recmmendatins f te nal reprt. Te 2009 human Deelpment Reprt led t te

creatin f a Cyprus Yut Carter wic, fr te rst time, articulated a cerent set

f ideas n te canges yung peple belieed wuld impre teir lies. Designed

by te Yut Adisry Bard te carter addressed: family, educatin, emplyment,

leisure actiities and ealt, freedm f speec, sci-plitical participatin, and peace

and recnciliatin. Amng ter tings it appealed fr te demilitarizatin f Cyprus,

te use f mdern tecnlgies t supprt recnciliatin, te prmtin f multicultural

principles in educatin and te adptin f a cmmn Cyprit ciic identity wic

recgnised tat te term Cyprit refers t bt Greek Cyprits and Turkis Cyprits.
http://youthpowercyprus.org/http://www.undp-act.org/data/ads/cyprus_hd_report_2009_website_version2.pdfhttp://www.undp-act.org/data/ads/cyprus_hd_report_2009_website_version2.pdfhttp://youthpowercyprus.org/


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Youth Voices:

We already became friends, went out a couple

of times, exchanged phone calls and emails.

It is always helpful to know a journalist in

the other community. It gives you the chance to

double check what is being broadcast on

the other side.

Young Journalists Project participant.

I dont have Greek Cypriot friends but I want

to have [some], whom I can meet in common

activities. I really want to learn more things

about them.

Human Development Report respondant.

To start with, there should be no dividing line;

the two communities should be mixed.

Human Development Report respondant.


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Designing policy options to

stimulate public participationin reconciliation

The notion of a Cypriot-led, Cypriot-owned peace process was quickly embedded

in the style of negotiations which started with the Christoas-Talat talks in 2008.

International experience has shown that the more democratic peace processes have

yielded the best results. According to one international organization:

While democratic compromise produces the solutions regarding the issues in

conict, then, reconciliation addresses the relationships between those who will

have to implement those solutions. It is important to point out, though, that this

applies not simply to the politicians and the deal-makers who are engaged in

the compromise. It applies to the entire population. The relationship which must

be addressed is not simply that between parliamentarians or le

Citizen Peacemaking in Cyprus

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