Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group

It was created by members of the Bicommunal Conflict Resolution Group (Project Leaders I), the Bicommunal Conflict Resolution Group (Project Leaders II) and the Bicommunal Steering Committee.

Early Peace Movement

The members of the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group are credited for the creation and growth of what later became known as peace movement in Cyprus, having introduced and trained more than 4,000 citizens from across the enemy borders in peace and conflict resolution. The map below summarizes all peace groups and initiatives in Cyprus, especially up to their abrupt discontinuation in December 1997 by Turkey. The orange boxes show all groups created and supported by the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group.

Cyprus Peace Bazaar

In the third phase of their work, the CCRTG proposed a total of 241 possible projects designed to work toward their vision, and they eventually selected 15 of these projects (using democratic structured dialogue) for implementation during the following year. On June 24, 1995 they held an Agora/Bazaar in the premises of Ledra Palace to which they invited others who had expressed interest in joining them in peace building efforts.^[1]

Selected projects

#	PROJECT
1	Form study groups on Cyprus Federation/EU
2	Establish regular columns in G/C and T/C newspapers by members of opposite community
3	Schedule series of lectures by Orthodox and Muslim priests
4	Establish bi-communal meetings for T/Cs and G/Cs who studied together in integrated schools before 1974 (English School and American Academy)
5	Find sponsors for publishing books on poetry, short stories, art, folk dances in both languages
6	Establish a bi-communal women’s research center and support group
7	Form a bi-communal research center on history, social structure, traditions, culture, oral history of the two communities
8	Conduct bi-communal workshops for young political leaders
9	Establish bi-communal center to teach Internet and Greek and Turkish languages
10	Organize bi-communal workshops on problem solving techniques for educationalists
11	Set up bi-communal training/research center on conflict resolution and problem solving
12	Create bi-communal dialogue groups to focus on critical issues (property concerns, identity, security, etc.)
13	Organize poetry evenings for bi-communal audience
14	Organize concert with theme Peace on the Green line
15	Study the living conditions of T/Cs who live in the south and G/Cs who live in the north and make joint public report

Implementation

The Group has sent a historical letter sent to UN General Secretary 12 Feb 1997 by which they were requesting logistical and financial support to implement their projects. Almost three years later, the UN established the Cyprus wing of the UNOPS program, which provided funding for some of the above projects, but mainly to a few a hundred additional peace initiatives on the island. The UNOPS program failed in many respects to support the continuation of the work of the Cyprus Conflict Resolution Trainers Group because it came late.