Скачать или смотреть Seeking Peace in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean: Negotiations and Alternative Diplomatic Paths

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözenmoderated the session, providing a broad perspective on Cyprus and regional peace processes. By deepening the contributions of the panelists, Sözen ensured that the issues were addressed in a more comprehensive manner and created an environment for constructive discussion. Sözen's guidance made the session understandable and productive for the audience as well.

The second speaker of the session, Achilleas Demetriades, is a lawyer who ran as an independent candidate in the 2023 Cyprus Presidential elections. In his presentation, Demetriades drew attention to the ongoing problem of missing persons in Cyprus and proposed the establishment of a Truth Commission on this issue. He emphasized that such a commission could uncover information that could lead to coming to terms with the past and contribute to reconciliation between the different communities on the island. Demetriades elaborated on the successful outcomes of similar commissions in other countries and explained how this model could contribute to the development of long-term peace and understanding between peoples in Cyprus.
The third speaker was Kyrenia MP and businessman Fikri Toros, who spoke on “A Federal Solution in Cyprus: A Realistic Model for Peace from History to the Future”, examined the potential of a federal settlement to achieve lasting peace in Cyprus. Toros emphasized that the federal solution model would strengthen inter-communal reconciliation not only through political but also economic cooperation. He noted that joint economic projects can promote not only economic growth but also lasting peace.

In the second session, Dr. Esra Dilek, “Track II Diplomacy: New Opportunities and Strategies for Conflict Resolution in the Eastern Mediterranean”, discussed the potential of Track II diplomacy to address conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean. Focusing on conflicts in the region, such as Cyprus, Greece-Turkey, Libya, Syria, Libya and Israel-Palestine, Dilek discussed how this diplomacy can contribute to formal diplomacy.

Hessam Youssef, a retired Egyptian diplomat, presented “Track II Diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean Conflicts: An Alternative or Complement to Official Diplomacy?” highlighted the shortcomings of Track I diplomacy. Youssef explained the advantages and challenges of Track II diplomacy with examples such as the Oslo Accords, noting that this diplomacy offers solutions not only to conflict resolution but also to global problems such as migration and extremism.

Finally, Özdil Nami, former Foreign Minister and chief negotiator of the TRNC, in his speech titled “Can the Northern Ireland Peace Process be a Model for Cyprus?”, assessed how the lessons learned from the Northern Ireland peace process can be adapted to the Cyprus problem. Nami shared his observations in Dublin in November 2023 and emphasized the importance of Track II diplomacy in the successful conclusion of the peace process in Northern Ireland. He discussed how these experiences can benefit the confidence building process in Cyprus.

At the end of the session, New Release: "Track II Diplomacy: The Way Out in the Eastern Mediterranean? ”, which has the same theme as the panel. The book details the role of Track II diplomacy in the Northern Ireland peace process and discusses how these experiences can serve as a model for conflict resolution in Cyprus. Panel participants and invited guests had the opportunity to review the book, which gave the session an academic and practical context.


New Release: "Track II Diplomacy: The Way Out in the Eastern Mediterranean? ” is available for review at the link below.

https://www.europolitika.com/new-rele...
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