RTCYPP News 2.12.19

Sweden’s EU Minister Mr. Hans Dahlgren Visits Office Of RTCYPP

29 November 2019

On 29 November 2019, RTCYPP Exceutive Director, Salpy Eskidjian was honoured and privileged to meet with the EU Minister of Sweden Mr. Hans Dahlgren who was visiting Cyprus for EU consultations.

Minister Dahlgren was accompanied by the Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Anders Hagelberg, Deputy Director of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Per Hallström, and Political Adviser to the Minister Mr. Kristoffer Strömgren.

Salpy Eskidjian warmly welcomed Minister Dahlgren and thanked him for his interest and apprection of the RTCYPP. She extended the greetings and gratitude of the Religious Leaders of Cyprus to the Swedish Government for the longstanding support to a unique human rights based peacebuilding initiative and for the excellent cooperation with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting took place at the Office of RTCYPP based at the Home for Cooperation in the UN Controlled Buffer Zone, Nicosia.

 

 

RTCYPP News 25.11.19

16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
25.11.2019

Today 25 November marks the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and with that the beginning of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism”, concluding in Human Rights Day 10 December. On these and all other days, the Religious Leaders of Cyprus continue to stand up for women’s rights and the elimination of violence, and reiterate the 2017 Joint Statement Condemning All Forms of Violence against Women and Girls.

 

RTCYPP News 19.11.19

Autumn High-Level Meeting of the Religious Leaders of Cyprus
19 November 2019

Religious leaders gather at the Swedish Residence in Nicosia for a High Level Meeting of the RTCYPP under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden. Ambassador Hagelberg hosted a very constructive lunch meeting, facilitated by Sweden’s Special Envoy on Religion, Peace-building & Conflict, organized by the Office of RTCYPP.

All five leaders of the faith communities of Cyprus were present. HB Archbishop Chrysostomos II was not able to attend the meeting in person due to health reasons. He was represented by HE Bishop Porfyrios of Neapolis. HE Archbishop Soueif was out of the country and was represented by Father Khita.

The meeting made decisions regarding sensitive and crucial items on the agenda of the dialogue. The religious leaders reiterated their resolve to meet more often and work more closely. Ambassador Hagelberg welcomed the decisions of the leaders and reassured them of his governments continued support and accompaniment to the RTCYPP.

RTCYPP News 13.11.19

Feast of St Chrysostomos
13.11.19

On the occasion of the feast of St Chrysostomos, also the nameday of the Head of the Greek Orthodox Church Of Cyprus, His Excellency Anders Hagelberg, Ambassador of Sweden is warmly welcomed by His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II to the Holy Liturgy at the Cathedral of St John followed by a private audience at the Synodical Hall of the Archbishopric, where the two had an opportunity to discuss the Religious Track. Ambassador Hagelberg congratulated the Archbishop on his name-day and wished him well. His Beatitude expressed his gratitude to the Swedish government for its sincere and long term support to the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP) which operates under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden since 2009. Ambassador Hagelberg was accompanied by the Executive Director of the Office for RTCYPP. 

 


Photo credit CNA and Office of RTCYPP. 

RTCYPP News 12.11.19

Name Day celebration of Archbishop Chrysostomos II
12.11.19

 

Office of the RTCYPP accompanies the Latin, Armenian Orthodox, Maronite and Greek Evangelical Religious leaders and representatives to evening vespers at the Cathedral of St John at the Archbishopric of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, followed by a gathering to celebrate the feast of St Chrysostomos, Nameday of Archbishop Chrysostomos II.

RTCYPP News 11.11.19

17th Special Pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke

On 11 November 2019, 415 worshippers attended a special pilgrimage to Hala Sultan Tekke on the occasion of Mevlit Kandili (Mawlid al-Nabi), coordinated and overseen by the Office of RTCYPP.

This is one of the three pilgrimages to Hala Sultan Tekke, organised by the Muftiate of Cyprus, taking place annually for Turkish nationals living on the island who otherwise are not able to visit and pray at the most significant mosque in Cyprus.

The three special pilgrimages are part of an unprecedented agreement reached between Archbishop Chrysostomos II and Mufti Talip Atalay in 2014 within the framework of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden (RTCYPP) and supported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus.

The crossings are facilitated by the UN and Cyprus Police forces in cooperation with UNFICYP Civil Affairs.

RTCYPP News 26.10.19

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

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

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.