SRSG Spehar joins university students for bi-communal symposium on trust-building

15 May 2017

SRSG Spehar joins university students for bi-communal symposium on trust-building

NICOSIA, 15 May 2017 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, made opening remarks at a symposium on trust-building co-organised on 15 May 2017 by the European University Cyprus and UNFICYP.

“Trust-building between opposing groups can be a core building block for resolving conflict; it is an essential ingredient to achieve reconciliation in divided societies and is an element of peacebuilding.,” SRSG Spehar said. “Building greater trust and open communication between governments and those that they govern, and also between diverse groups in society can generate the “glue” or cohesion necessary for successful and sustainable democracies in an increasingly globalized world.”

The symposium involved both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot university students, encouraging them to delve into challenges and opportunities for trust-building in Cyprus.

The event was part of UNFICYPs commitment reach out to various sectors of society throughout Cyprus and lend support to initiatives promoting inter-communal dialogue and understanding.