The Executive President of Cyprus Forum, Nikolas Kyriakides, recently gave an interview to CNN Greece with Kostas Pliakos. In the interview, he highlighted the efforts by Oxygen for Democracy and Cyprus Forum to keep dialogue open between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Nicolas Kyriakides noted that, since border crossings opened, interactions between the two communities have increased, reducing many long-standing prejudices and underlining the urgent need for improving relations.

He also discussed initiatives in recent years to develop proposals aimed at fostering economic cooperation between the communities. However, he pointed out significant challenges: the trauma of war, and the content promoted by each community’s educational systems, all of which hinder cooperation and foster distrust toward potential solutions to the Cyprus issue.

Finally, when asked about the rise of the far-right in Cyprus and its impact on Cyprus reunification discussions, Nicolas Kyriakides emphasized that the Cyprus issue requires neither extreme positions nor divisive rhetoric, but rather a realistic approach that strengthens collaboration between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

You can find the interview HERE