We seek the urgent solution to the Cyprus problem and the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at all levels of the negotiation process, said representatives of the Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition (CWBC) on Friday, during the presentation of its founding manifesto at a press conference held at Ledra Palace Hotel, with the support of the Embassy of Ireland in Cyprus.
In his introduction at the beginning of the coalition’s launching event, the Ambassador of Ireland to Cyprus Conor Long referred to the conflict in Northern Ireland and the creation of a more inclusive process in the 1990s with the aim of resolving the conflict which brought new voices and parties into the negotiation, adding that the principles of inclusion and transparency were vital to the public legitimacy of the negotiations and enabled the participants to successfully make the case for a ‘yes’ in a referendum.
He added that a transformational voice was that of the Northern Ireland women’s coalition, which represented women
from both communities and became a voice of unity and consensus, stressing that without their vision peace might never have arrived.
He also recalled the vital role international support played in the peace process, noting the Ireland has maintained its presence in UNFICYP since 1964, demonstrating its commitment to peace, security and a solution in Cyprus based on the UN framework.
‘I believe that the lessons of Northern Ireland can make a positive contribution in Cyprus’, noted the Irish ambassador and praised the participation of women with a deep commitment to peace.
In its manifesto, read in English by Emine Dizarli, lawyer and President of the Human Rights Foundation, in Greek by Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in Turkish by Meltem Onurkan-Samani, former special advisor to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, CWBC states that as a strongly pro-solution bi-communal group of women, bringing together a diverse array of expertise knowledge and experience from various p
rofessional and political spheres, with a deep commitment to peace, it has recently convened and exchanged views in response to the current critical situation affecting the prospects of a solution in Cyprus.
‘Galvanised by our shared concern over the historical absence of full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women in the Cyprus peace processes, guided by the landmark UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace And Security and inspired by the transformative role of women in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations that successfully led to the Good Friday Agreement, we have unanimously agreed to form the Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition and adopted our manifesto’, continued the coalition, adding that its goal is the urgent solution to the Cyprus problem, the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at the negotiating table at all levels of the negotiation process, the inclusion of a gender perspective in the negotiations, as well as the strengthening of the role
of women in peacebuilding by promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation.
In closing, the coalition also declared its commitment to conducting outreach to grassroots women in both communities and forging strong alliances with the civil society.
During the discussion that followed, and asked about any existing timeline of upcoming activities, Katie Clerides, former MP and Vice-President of the Democratic Rally, said that the coalition has planned a number of networking activities to reach out to other groups, not only women’s groups, but primarily groups involved in bi-communal activities, starting immediately after Easter with one event in Nicosia and one in Famagusta.
Former Minister of Justice and Public Order Stephie Dracos added that the coalition is here to stay and it will continue its efforts until an agreed settlement is found, while Ipek Borman, academic and international relations expert, said that the coalition’s aim is not only peacemaking, but also peacebuilding, especially in a conflict w
hich has been continuing for many decades.
In her intervention, former European Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou highlighted the important role of the educational system and the need to include educators in the process as a means to promote a sense of peace in schools, while former Justice and Public Order Minister Anna Koukkides Procopiou stressed that a peace process has more chances of succeeding if it is more inclusive as it provides more legitimacy in the eyes of the citizens.
The event concluded with an exchange of views on the challenges women face when it comes to their effective participation in the negotiation process, the underrepresentation of youth and other social groups in peacebuilding initiatives and the control established political parties and labour unions still exercise over the political process.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotia
tions, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency