Radboud University students briefed on Solutions to the Cyprus Issue

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations faculty members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Latif and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sertaç Sonan participated in the panel organized for the students of Radboud University's “Conflict, Territories and Identities” Master's program in the Netherlands.

The panel was organized  for the “Conflict, Territories and Identities” Master's program students who conducted a field study in Cyprus, and Latif and Sonan discussed different perceptions on the Resolutions to the Cyprus problem.

Latif shared the knowledge that the graduate program, which provides expertise in conflict, territory and identity-related issues, accepts students from abroad as well as the Netherlands, and stated that the program is well known for recruiting students of diverse backgrounds.

Stating that the program encourages students to participate in fieldwork in conflict-affected areas which is included in the curriculum and which also is within the scope of their master's thesis, Latif said, “Radbound University has chosen Cyprus as a destination for such an important training this year. Thirty students and two advisors organized a field trip to Cyprus”.

Latif noted that during their stay in Cyprus, the students had the chance to meet with representatives of academic, cultural, political and non-governmental organizations as well as officials of relevant diplomatic and international organizations.

Latif, as one of the speakers,  gave information about the obstacles to peace studies in Cyprus and especially about peace education, and drew attention to how education and history were instrumental in politics in this context.

Sonan, on the other hand, pointed out the problems created by corruption and the weakness of good governance in Cyprus, and expressed the negative consequences of corruption in both communities in Cyprus resulting in the continuation of the Cyprus problem.

In the Question and Answer session held after the panel, information was provided to the students to help them understand the relationship between conflict zones, borders, identities and perceptions in line with the purpose of the field training.