A lot has been done in trying to solve the Cyprus problem. Teenagers and adults have attended peace workshops, the border has been opened, people have crossed the line, and the two sides’ leaders have had friendly conversations, but the problem remains. However, there have yet to be any resolution workshops for pre-adolescent Cypriots, especially in the form of a school that treats Greek and Turkish issues equally.
Videos
Section 1: The upcoming September 2008 peace talks
Section 2: Nicosia's main Street, bisected by the U.N. barrier
Section 3: Media interviews with politicians and scholars
Section 4: Non-governmental reconciliation efforts
The upcoming September 2008 peace talks
1. The upcoming 09/08 peace talks - (2008)
2. The upcoming 09/08 peace talks - (2008)
Ledra Street, Nicosia’s main street bisected by the U.N.
barrier
1. The re-closing of the street (2008)
2. The ceremonies of the opening - (2008)
3. A crossing replaces the barrier - (2008)
4. Conversations with Cypriots about Ledra Street (2007)
5. Breaking down the barrier (2007)
6. Freeze in Ledras: A "human freeze" represents the 34-year freeze of human activity on this part of the street (2008)
Media interviews with politicians and scholars
1. A Republic of Cyprus (Greek Cypriot) spokesperson (2008)
2. Politicians and scholars after Demetris Christofias was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus (R.O.C.) - Part 1 (2008) and Part 2 (2008)
3. Demetris Christofias (2008)
4. Mehmet Ali Talat, the "president" of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (Turkish Cypriot) (2007)
5. "The deputy prime minister / foreign minister" of the "T.R.N.C." (2007)
6. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the R.O.C. (2007)
7. The previous Minister of Foreign Affairs of the R.O.C. (2007)
Videos of the non-governmental reconciliation efforts
1. Film preview for Cyprus: Echoes Across the Divide, an effort to create architectural music vibrating across the two sides of Nicosia (2006)
2. Film preview for Long Distance Call about the same event (2006)
3. Cyprus Kids for Kids Festival – interviews with young Cypriot children about the situation (2006)
4. A reconciliation workshop in the USA for both Greek and Turkish Cypriot college students (2006)
5. A Fulbright reconciliation workshop in the USA for Cypriot college students (2004)
6. Cyprus Bold Leaders - a reconciliation workshop for Cypriot teens that is similiar to Seeds for Peace (2004)
7. Seeds of Peace, until recently, held reconciliation camps in the USA for Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot teenagers. Though has won a lot of praise, Seeds of Peace has shortcomings related to the participants' age, the duration and location of the program, and the lack of ties to important families in Cypriot politics. The best long-term return on a peace investment would be to work with the youngest of children who are closely related to one of the two side's political leaders and to work with them for the duration of their formal schooling (16 years) and in the heart of the conflict where their families live. Click here for more on the issues of duration, location, participants' age, and their familial ties.
Recent articles about resolution efforts
1. Cyprus sets date for peace talks (07/2008)
2. Cyprus unity hopes rekindled (06/2008)
3. Cypriot leaders agree to restart peace talks on reunifying island (03/2008)
4. Q&A: Cyprus peace process (03/2008)
5. Cyprus peace talks 'must succeed' (03/2008)
The Annan Plan
The Annan Plan in 2004 was perhaps the most well-known attempt to end the Cyprus dispute, but that failed in an island-wide referendum. Two quotes about the plan are noteworthy, one from the U.N. Secretary-General at the time, Kofi Annan, and one from Gunter Verheugen, the senior official supervising the imminent expansion of the European Union:
“This is one of the most comprehensive peace plans in the history of the United Nations. It is also the only foreseeable route to the reunification of Cyprus… There is no other plan out there.” - K. Annan
"There is no better possible plan." – G. Verheugen
However, there was nothing in the Annan Plan on education except for generalities about writing history textbooks from a more inclusive perspective.
The Nicosia Master Plan Information Centre
In May of 2005, the two mayors of Nicosia opened their first joint-run project in the heart of the buffer zone, the Nicosia Master Plan Information Centre. Said the U.S. ambassador at the time, Michael Klosson, “It is the first infrastructure project run by the two municipalities. Joint projects are not easy… they require a lot of work. This sends a strong message to the international community that a solution is possible, that Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together.”
At that announcement, North Nicosia (Turkish Cypriot) Mayor Kutlay Erik stated, “We need to continue working together for more projects...”
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