Journalism for Peace
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HasNa Inc. headed by Mrs. Nevzer Stacy has funded an exchange program for your journalists between 1 June, 2002 and the 31 May, 2003. Five Turkish Cypriots and five Greek Cypriots had the opportunity to enjoy a short-term scholarship and spend a couple of weeks in Washington DC, hosted by American Families. [[Yiannis Laouros from the Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute together with his peace friend Huseyin Gursan of the Youth Centre coordinated the project.
Members of the Advisory Board
The project was monitored and supervised by an Advisory Committee which also served as ad-hoc selection committee. The following served as members of the Advisory Board:
- Yiannis Laouris, President of the Technology for Peace initiative
- Hayatin Hayat, President of Olive Branch
- Devrim Hayat, Secretary of Olive Branch
- Maria Hadjipavlou, President of Peace Centre Cyprus
- Harry Anastasiou, Professor of Peace Studies, Portland State University
- Romina Laouri, political science student
The Parties have agreed to collaborate to promote peace and reconciliation in Cyprus through the introduction and initiation of a series of specific collaborative projects for young Turkish and Greek Cypriots living in the Southern and Northern part of the island. This Memorandum covered project-related activities that would take place in the United States and Cyprus, including:
- Setting up a Communal Office to coordinate activities across the Green Line, promote the specific proposed projects by Cypriots in the South and North, and provide needed staff and logistical support to these professionals in developing, implementing and evaluating projects. One Greek Cypriot coordinator will staff the Office.
- Formation of a Bi-communal Advisory Board that will work together, with equal Turkish and Greek representation, to supervise projects and provide guidance
- Establishing a series of training programs in conflict resolution and professional skills for young adults, with equal representation from both Turkish and Greek communities, with the ultimate goal of instituting joint projects.
- Working together with the scholars for a period of 1 year supporting them in their bicommunal meetings.
- Organization of a journalists' peace conference.
George Tziapouras and Synthia Pavlou coordinated a number of activities.
