{"id":28386,"date":"2016-07-26T15:46:35","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T20:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/facilitating_peace_with_passion_wcc\/"},"modified":"2016-07-26T15:46:35","modified_gmt":"2016-07-26T20:46:35","slug":"facilitating_peace_with_passion_wcc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/facilitating_peace_with_passion_wcc\/","title":{"rendered":"Facilitating peace with passion (WCC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Claus Grue*<\/em><\/p>\n

Facilitating peace requires conviction, political independence and endurance. Add a whole lot of passion and native Cypriot Salpy Eskidjian fits perfectly into that job description. Since she started in 2011 as executive coordinator of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP), which is operating under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden in Nicosia, she has tirelessly \u2013 and successfully \u2013 sought to engage religious leaders in a dialogue for peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that this country needs to come together regardless of faiths and beliefs. Religious leaders can \u2013 and should \u2013 play an important role in facilitating peace. Now that we have brought them together, there is hope,\u201d says Eskidjian.<\/p>\n

RTCYPP was established \u201cto encourage, facilitate and serve the religious leaders\u2019 dialogue and efforts for religious freedom and peace in Cyprus and to contribute positively and constructively to the Cyprus peace talks,\u201d according to the organization\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Since it was founded in 2009 it has evolved into an active peace-builder based on four pillars: build trust among the religious leaders and communities, promote confidence-building measures, ensure the protection of religious monuments and advocate for the right to access and worship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started as a rather quiet initiative which then really took off in 2011, when regular meetings between religious leaders of Cyprus became a reality and they reiterated their commitment to working together for human rights and peace within the framework of the RTCYPP. We have accomplished significant changes but we still have a long way to go,\u201d explains Eskidjian.<\/p>\n

One important issue is the right of access to religious sites and churches and thus to allow people to come and worship and pray in them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00b4ve seen a lot of red tape to get permissions, which doesn\u2019t foster an atmosphere of co-existence. United religious leaders can be instrumental to change this,\u201d she says.
Backlashes occur, such as further prohibitions and restrictions to the right to worship announced by the Turkish-Cypriot authorities in May this year. Recently the UN Secretary General issued a statement urging both sides to \u201csupport the (ongoing) dialogue by ensuring that the trend continues towards full access to worship to the more than 500 churches and other places of worship in the north and the some 100 mosques in the south.\u201d<\/p>\n

New initiatives are also launched by RTCYPP, such as \u201cKnow your neighbour: Respect one another,\u201d which is an informative and educational programme for the public including state officials, policy makers, clerics and citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is to enhance people\u2019s knowledge, understanding and respect of each other\u2019s culture, tradition and religion. Respecting each other\u2019s differences contributes to the promotion and protection of freedom and religious belief, which is a fundamental human right,\u201d Eskidjian explains.<\/p>\n

In general, she feels that things are moving in the right direction and that the RTCYPP is making a difference for sustainable peace in Cyprus.<\/p>\n

\u201cA very important step forward, that we have facilitated, is that the religious leaders now advocate for the rights of each other, and that we have established a common language in the peace dialogue based on the RTCYPP framework\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, dealing with the past, reconciliation and forgiveness are crucial areas where religious leaders play important roles in order to ensure a sustainable peace,\u201d Eskidjian continues.<\/p>\n

Her solid background in advocacy work for the Middle East Council of Churches, the Nordic Churches and the World Council of Churches, her Cypriot heritage and the fact that RTCYPP is supported by Sweden, which has a strong reputation as an independent and peace-facilitating nation, give extra weight to her efforts.<\/p>\n

And so does her passion and diplomacy skills.<\/p>\n

*Claus Grue is a Communication Consultant for the World Council of Churches.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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