Cyprus
Cyprus currently faces its best chance to achieve reunification after decades of conflict and division between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The Elders are actively encouraging efforts to build peace on the island, and have made three visits to Cyprus. They share their thoughts in this blog, along with photos and videos, and contributions from some of those they have met who are also working for peace.
Never in my career have I felt that a situation is hopeless or that change is impossible – despite what other people may have told me. More »
In Cyprus we are hyper-fixated on the 'peace process' at the same time that we distance ourselves from it. We act like spectators at a sporting match - watching the main players scoring points against each other, and comment on whether what we're seeing is right or wrong. More »
While in Cyprus Desmond Tutu was interviewed by Christiana Voniati for Cyprus' POLITIS newspaper. She asked him about his reasons for visiting Cyprus, the importance of dealing with the past when resolving conflicts, and what, if any, place there was for a truth and reconciliation process on the island. The article was published in December 2009 More »
While I was in Cyprus many people asked me “Why have the Elders come here three times?” “Why do you think we can achieve peace now when we haven't done before?"
My answer is this: I think the situation now is very different from what I have known in the past, and represents possibly the best opportunity we have seen for a solution. More »
Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi and Jimmy Carter visited Cyprus from 8-10 December 2009. During their visit the three Elders met with the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. They also held a public meeting to discuss issues of trust and truth-seeking in divided societies. More »
From my years of involvement in peace building work I have discovered some basic 'raw' truths that have also been the experience of possibly everyone who has been involved in this kind of work. First, is the fact that the pain of 'our' side blinds us to the pain of the 'other' side. More »
The Cyprus Community Media Centre is currently running an ongoing campaign entitled ‘What’s your story?’. This campaign involves collecting stories from people across the island who are interested in sharing anecdotes, thoughts, testimonies and memories about themselves. More »
As part of their visit to Cyprus Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi and Jimmy Carter took part in a discussion on building trust in coflict-affected communities. More »
How sorry I was that I could not visit Cyprus with my fellow Elders, Gro Brundtland and Lakhdar Brahimi, in September. I suffered a back injury that kept me bedridden in South Africa; if only I were as young in body as I feel in spirit! My family are always telling me to slow down, but somehow I never quite manage it.
So it is a joy to be coming back to Cyprus, a place that really made an impression on me when I visited a year ago, just as your two leaders were beginning negotiations to reunite this beautiful island. More »
One thing is clear - peace processes and governance should not be left only to men.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 urges states to ensure increased representation of women in conflict resolution and peace processes. It is a resolution that my fellow Elders and I wholeheartedly support. More »
