Monthly Archives: October 2019

RTCYPP News 26.10.19

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2019 RTCYPP/ODIHR-OSCE Youth Seminar on Freedom of Religion or Belief
25.10.19-26.10.19

Twenty amazing Cypriot Youth and students from five faith communities of Cyprus come together for the first humanrights seminar for youth on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Cyprus.
The one and a half day training seminar was facilitated by two expert trainers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (ODIHR-OSCE), organized and hosted by the Office for the Religious Track Of the Cyprus Peace Process( RTCYPP).

The seminar took place at the Home for Cooperation and the Ledra Palace Hotel In the UN controlled buffer zone in Nicosia from 25-26 October 2019. It followed a day and a half of training with clerical and lay representatives of religious leaders of Cyprus and faith communities as well as a special session with women on women’s rights and FoRB.

Sincere appreciation and gratitude to the governments of Sweden and Italy for their financial support as well as the Home for Cooperation and UNFICYP for providing the space for the meetings and partnership.
Stay tuned for more information and exciting updates from the youth participants soon.

 

 

RTCYPP News 25.10.19

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Roundtable Discussion on Women and Freedom of Religion or Belief

25.10.19

Human worth, dignity & equality are inborn traits, nobody can take them away! Rich discussion on women’s right to equality and the right to freedom of religion or belief in Cyprus hosted by Office of RTCYPP together with OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) women in Cyprus.

RTCYPP News 24.10.19

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2019 RTCYPP/ODIHR-OSCE Seminar on Freedom of Religion or Belief
24.10.19

On UN Day 2019, Office of RTCYPP and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) welcomed representatives of Religious Leaders and eight faith communities of Cyprus to the second training seminar on advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief emphasizing the right of all men and women to freely practice their religion or belief which is key to achieving lasting peace and security.

RTCYPP News 16.10.19

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Conference on peace-building hosted by Archbishop of the Maronite Church of Cyprus H.E. Youssef Soueif on the occasion of the visit of Archbishop of Milan H.E. Mario Enrico Delpini

The peacebuilding efforts of the Religious Leaders Of Cyprus within the framework of RTCYPP under the Auspices of the Embassy Of Sweden and their joint activities to advance religious freedom in Cyprus were highlighted at a conference on peace-building at the Maronite Church Hall in Nicosia this afternoon.

Among the speakers were the representative of HB Archbishop Chrysostomos II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus , the Executive Director of the Office of RTCYPP, representatives of the Chief of UN peacekeeping force ( UNFICYP) and UN Good Offices in Cyprus including the co-chairs of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. Insights and experiences on peacekeeping, peace building and reconciliation in Cyprus were shared.

The conference was organized and hosted by HE Archbishop Soueif of the Maronite Church for a delegation of the Archdiocese of Milan, led by the Archbishop of Milan, H.E. Mario Enrico Delpini. The conference was followed by a church service ( Holy Mass) at the Maronite Cathedral in Nicosia and a reception at the Betmoroun Maronite Archbishopric. Honored guests included the Ambassador of Italy, representatives of President of the Republic of Cyprus H.E Mr Anastasiades & Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr Christodoulides.

H.E. Archbishop Delpini and the delegation from Milan are on a pilgrimage in Cyprus to follow the path of the Apostle Paul.

RTCYPP News 15.10.19

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Presentation of RTCYPP for Swedish UN veterans
15.10.19

The Office of RTCYPP were happy to present the efforts and achievements of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process to the association “Fredsbaskrarna” (“the Peace Berets”); UN veterans who have served in the Swedish contingents of UNFICYP from 1964 to 1987.

Sweden was one of the first troop-contributing countries to UNFICYP.

The Swedish UN force on Cyprus was Sweden’s largest ever peace-keeping mission. It lasted from 1964 to 1993.
In all, Sweden provided 25 616 military personnel and 2 365 police officials.

The Swedish Contingent that took over responsibility for Famagusta district in April 1974– had a strength of 240 military personnel and police officers.

One of many new duties of the Swedish peacekeepers in the wake of the in the aftermath of the war in 1974 was to feed and take care of animals at farms, left behind by their fleeing Greek Cypriot owners.

They also set up and manned new observation posts in Famagusta district and acted as mediators between the opposing forces. The Swedish UN Contingent was also charged with the task of evacuating all Scandinavian tourists from the island. There were over 800 here at the time.

In the mission, 18 Swedes died. It is also worth noting that Sweden broke new ground by employing women in the UN mission for the first time.

The meeting took place at the Home for Cooperation in the Nicosia Buffer Zone.

RTCYPP News 11.10.19

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First visits of H.E. Ambassador Hagelberg to Religious Leaders of Cyprus
11.10.19

H.E. Ambassador Anders Hagelberg of Sweden extended his respects to the Religious Leaders of Cyprus, namely H.B Archbishop Chrysostomos II, H.E Mufti Talip Atalay, H.E. Archbishop Youssef Soueif, H.E. Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, and Fr. Jerzy Kraj (joined by Apostolic Nuncio to Cyprus H.E. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli), during his first formal meeting with them. Ambassador Hagelberg was warmly welcomed by all the religious leaders of Cyprus who reiterated their commitment to continue their dialogue and joint efforts for human rights, peace and reconciliation within the framework of the RTCYPP.