The Cyprus Women Bicommunal Coalition (CWBC) carried out a study visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland at the beginning of September, funded by the European Union as part of the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community.
A press release issued by CWBC on Friday says that during the visit, CWBC members met with key figures involved in the peace process and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. These figures included former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, founding member of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition Bronagh Hinds, Secretary General of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Hackett, and Deputy Ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron from the Northern Ireland Executive Office.
During their meetings in Belfast and Dublin, CWBC members emphasised their commitment to ensuring the active and equal participation of women in the Cyprus peace negotiations, inspired by the Good Friday Agreement.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern
third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency