Strengthening contacts between north and south of Cyprus

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Monday, 12 December 2011 14:15

Strengthening contacts between north and south of Cyprus

Through the EEA grants, Norway is contributing to increased dialogue between the peoples of the divided island of Cyprus. 25 % of the funding that lasts until 2014 is earmarked for the civil society. The agreement was signed in Nicosia this afternoon.

- The physical division of the island is hardly conducive to fostering dialogue and understanding between the two communities. Through these grants, Norway will continue its efforts to establish contacts at grassroots level between the north and south. Such dialogue can be a contribution to Cyprus in time to find a solution to the protracted conflict, said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Cyprus will receive € 7.8 million from the EEA grants until 2014. Approximately 25 percent of the contribution is earmarked for strengthening civil society. A separate fund for NGOs to give priority to projects that involve both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot the population.

In addition, there will be a continued support for the center "Home for Cooperation". The center was built with Norwegian support in the previous round of the EEA Grants and is located in the UN-controlled buffer zone in the capital Nicosia.

The center is a unique meeting place for the two population groups and offers a variety of activities: exhibitions, research, training and office space for NGOs from both sides. In the second round of the EEA Grants, the center include support for a project to start a dialogue about the content of history teaching in the north and south.