CPDC co-organised events on Truth Commission in London

The Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center (CPDC) co-organized two significant events in London on January 22 and 23, 2025, in collaboration with Truth Now and Warwick University’s Peace Return Project. The first event, a panel discussion titled "Truth Commission for the Missing in Cyprus: Possible or Feasible?", was held at King’s College London with keynote speakers Meltem Onurkan Samani and Achilleas Demetriades, and closing remarks by Constantine Partasides. The session, chaired by Emel Akçalı, explored the humanitarian, legal, and political dimensions of the possibility of a truth and reconciliation committee for the missing persons issue in Cyprus. Distinguished attendees included Baroness Meral Ece, senior diplomats, prominent academics from major universities in London, and members of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot diaspora.

The second event, "Diaspora Perspectives on Property Issues", took place on January 23 at the Cyprus Community Centre (Cyprus House). This workshop utilized a mini citizen’s assembly methodology under CPDC’s C-Up project and was co-facilitated by Dr. Onurkan Samani and Professor Neophytos Loizides, with expert input from Achilleas Demetriades. In addition to these events, Dr. Onurkan- Samani and Demetriades met with the Cyprus High Commissioner to the UK and Sheba Rosier, Head of the Cyprus Desk at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to discuss ongoing peace efforts. They also participated in a closed meeting on arbitration, evaluating Professor Partasides’ proposal as a mechanism to overcome political deadlocks.

During her visit, Dr. Onurkan- Samani reconnected with CPDC’s founding members, Shirin Jetha-Dagseven, Paraskevi Koumi, and Kübra Kalkandelen, reinforcing CPDC’s network. She emphasized the importance of engaging the Cypriot diaspora in peace efforts and strengthening civil society initiatives. Through international collaboration and participatory approaches, CPDC remains committed to promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in Cyprus.