The ‘Unresolved’ Cyprus Conflict was the subject of Dr Michalis Michael, Research Fellow at Centre for Dialogue of La Trobe University, keynote address during the conference “The Peace Process: Alternative Approaches” that took place last month in the University of Nicosia. The aim of the conference was to give the opportunity to a vast array of academics to present their views on the societal and political obstacles that prevent the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
During his keynote address Dr Michael presented his opinion in regards to why the Cyprus problem has not been resolved despite endless negotiations.
Dr Michael argued that ‘the persistence of radical disagreement throughout the post-Annan period and the unrelenting pursuit of adversarial politics by the conflicting parties’ have created a rather difficult environment for conducting an open and cooperative dialogue that would generate broader ideas for the resolution of the issue.
He concluded that all interested parties should see and actively harvest the opportunities that their EU membership generates. ‘The challenge confronting all parties in the Cyprus conflict is whether in a changing global environment there is the will and the foresight to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Europeanisation to transform the conflict and in the process create a ‘new Cyprus’ in addition to a ‘new Turkey’ he said.
In addition to his participation to the conference Dr Michael had the opportunity to attend a luncheon organised in his honor by the former President of Cyprus, George Vassiliou, during which he had the opportunity to exchange views and ideas the Ambassadors of Brazil, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland and Denmark, also present at the luncheon. In presence.
Present at the luncheon was also the Labor Party Federal Member for Callwell and wife of Dr. Michael, Maria Vamvakinou.