Mr. Downer: "Our optimism continues”

The “ENGAGE-Do your part for Peace” project  hosted a public discussion entitled “Towards a Federal Solution-What does this mean to you?” on the 18th of October 2011 at the Dedeman Olive Tree Resort.  The UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser Mr Alexander Downer was the guest speaker of the evening.

This event - is part of a series of public discussions that have been ongoing since September 2010, which aims to inform the wider public about the concept of Federalism.  The aim of this special event was to make people interact with an expert who has been directly involved with the negotiations, therefore increasing their awareness about the concepts of Federalism, bi-communal/bi-zonal structures, and what it will mean for them.

Mr. Downer emphasized that “There are many different federal structures in the world; the system that will be formed in Cyprus will be unique to Cyprus.”

Mr. Downer said that he thinks there will not be any serious changes in people’s lives after the solution. Throughout the course of the discussion, he re-emphasized to the audience that finding a solution is possible. Mr. Downer, who reminded all that ownership, security and the issue of guarantors  are the most challenging issues to discuss, stated that the sides were getting closer to an agreement on the topics of governance and power sharing, EU, the economy and internal affairs.

This was the second event in which Mr. Alexander Downer participated as guest speaker under the framework of the ENGAGE project. The first event took place in Larnanca on the 10th of October.  During the lively discussion at that specific event, and due to the voicing of strong opinions by a group of people questioning the idea of federation, it became apparent that there is still a great need for more public discourse on the future of the divided island and what that would mean to the people of Cyprus. This has demonstrated in turn that civil society has a role to play in supporting the reconciliation process and it is for this reason that civil society activists strongly encourage the leaders to take a more active role in engaging with the public.

Attending both meetings were local community leaders, local business people, non-governmental organizations,  politicians,  local residents, and  the media  who took the opportunity to engage in discourse with  Mr. Downer on the issue of Federation in Cyprus.

The ENGAGE-Do Your Part For Peace project is a joint project applied throughout the whole island by the Management Centre and NGO-Support Centre, and is supported by UNDP-ACT.

For more information about the ENGAGE – Do Your Part For Peace project, visit the official website www.engage4peace.org or you could contact the Communication and Press officers Burcu Mahmutoğlu, at the Management Centre offices or through the number +90 392 2277234 or via e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Georgious Andriotis from the NGO Support Center through the number +357-22875099 or via e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.