FES Cyprus Podcast - Beyond the Divide

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:09:23 +0000 https://fes-cyprus-podcast.podigee.io/28-new-episode 12759223391137934da92330f137edde 28 full A Call for a Collaborative Humanitarian Assistance Agenda Amidst Current Migration Crises in the Eastern Mediterranean no Hubert Faustmann

Welcome to "Navigating Waters," where we explore the vital intersection of policy and cooperation in addressing Mediterranean water challenges. In this episode, we focus on two key policy briefs: "From Crisis to Cooperation: Addressing Mediterranean Water Governance Through Coordinated Action" and "Key Water Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Call for Regional Cooperation." The Mediterranean region is grappling with a water crisis that underscores the need for effective governance. Join us as we delve into the impact of governance on sustainability and security, emphasizing the call for a comprehensive intra-regional water governance framework. In the Eastern Mediterranean, countries face diverse water-related challenges, from insufficient supplies to demographic shifts. This policy brief highlights these issues and examines how effective water management can foster regional collaboration. Join us as we navigate the waters of policy, cooperation, and sustainable solutions, exploring the intricacies of locally adapted policies and multi-level governance. Discover the collaborative efforts needed for a resilient and water-secure future in the Mediterranean region.

Emine Eminel Sülün delves into the political dynamics surrounding crucial Eastern Mediterranean interconnector projects. It highlights the importance of initiatives like the EuroAsia and EuroAfrica Interconnector in ensuring a secure and sustainable electricity supply for the region. These projects are particularly addressing the isolation of Cyprus' and Israel's electricity grids. While they serve energy security purposes, the paper suggests that these interconnectors should be part of a larger vision for an interconnected Mediterranean power system, promoting a low-carbon regional energy framework beyond geopolitical faultiness.

Emine Eminel Sülün shares an overview of the current state of grid integration throughout the Mediterranean area, examines several proposed interconnectivity projects, and concludes by proposing guidelines to enhance interconnectivity. The current state of interconnectivity and the future projects are reviewed within the broader vision of an interconnected Mediterranean power system that would foster a low-carbon regional energy framework in the future. Despite the absence of a shared vision for a unified Mediterranean energy market, the framework of climate change and energy transition can serve as a catalyst for forging a common perspective. However, an overarching question remains: How can the existing infrastructure and proposed projects successfully achieve a comprehensive, integrated power grid spanning the entire region when geopolitical concerns dominate the region?

In this edition of the "FES Cyprus Podcast - Beyond the Divide," Professor Hubert Faustmann, the director of the office, is joined by Professor Ahmet Sözen from Diplomeds and Laury Haytayan, the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Natural Resource Governance Institute. They delve into a discussion regarding the exploration of natural gas reserves in Cyprus, which has opened up new opportunities for cooperation in the conflict. Sözen proposes fresh perspectives and policy recommendations to break the current deadlock. Moreover, Haytayan explains how the agreement between Israel and Lebanon was achieved and addresses the question of whether it could serve as a model to foster cooperation, inclusivity, and ultimately peace in the region, with a specific focus on Cyprus. The episode is partially based on a chapter authored by Prof. Sözen in a Diplomeds policy study titled "Conflict Resolution in the Mediterranean: Energy as a Potential Game-Changer". The study explores the energy-related aspects of major conflicts in the Mediterranean, specifically focusing on Cyprus, Israel-Lebanon, and Morocco-Algeria. Find the whole report under the following link: https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/zypern/20302.pdf.

In this episode of “FES Cyprus Podcast – Beyond the Divide”, the director of the office, Prof. Hubert Faustmann hosts Vasiliki Triga, Assoc. Prof. of the Department of Communication and Internet Studies at the Cyprus University of Technology. They analyse Presidential Elections in the Republic of Cyprus in February 2023. The conversation also touches upon the main topics of the campaign such as corruption, inflation, immigration, gender equality and the Cyprus Problem.

In this tenth episode, Hrishabh Sandilya who leads Project Phoenix on the ground in Cyprus, speaks to Hubert Faustmann about what happened in migration in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean in 2021, how the migration issue and the Cyprus problem are increasingly intertwined, the sustained impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what to expect in 2022. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanise migrants by including and centralising their voices in the discourse.

In this ninth episode we speak to Michael Goecken from Project Phoenix, about the work the organisation does to help refugee fellows become entrepreneurs. We also speak to Sylvia Chumunu, a Phoenix fellow from Cameroon, who recently started an African shop in Nicosia's old town with the help of Project Phoenix. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanise migrants by including and centralising their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast—Episode 8: In this eighth episode, we speak to the inspirational Katerina Stephanou. Katerina is the CEO and Founder of Step Up Stop Slavery, a non-profit organization based in Cyprus, that is committed to disrupting the human trafficking business model through disruptive education programmes for schools and corporations. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanise migrants by including and centralising their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 7: In this episode, Hrishabh Sandilya speaks to Nicos Trimikliniotis who is Professor of Sociology, Social Sciences and Law, at the University of Nicosia and a leading academic who focuses on migration and human rights in Cyprus. Nicos is also the author of a forthcoming FES report (together with Corina Demetriou) - Cyprus: Αsylum And Migration in the Age of the Covid-19 Pandemic, which is the subject of this episode. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanize migrants by including and centralizing their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 5: In this episode, Sarah Morsheimer and Hrishabh Sandilya speak with Emmanuel Achiri, Co-Founder of Voices of International Students (VOIS), a student NGO, in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC). Originally from Cameroon, Emmanuel has been in Cyprus for seven years and is a PhD candidate at Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta as well as a co-founder of the Stop the War in Cameroon Coalition, a think-tank for young researchers working on solutions to end the war in Cameroon. They discuss the reality that international students and immigrants face in the "TRNC", the work that Emmanuel and his team at VOIS Cyprus do in assisting international students, as well as Emmanuel's work on refugee and immigration issues in Africa. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanize migrants by including and centralizing their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 6: In the sixth episode, Hubert Faustmann and Hrishabh Sandilya discuss the migration situation on Europe's borders with journalist Andrew Connelly. They talk about the potential impact any further movement of migrants from Afghanistan and Lebanon could have on the EU, Andrew's presence on the Belarussian border and his past experiences in Cyprus and Greece. Andrew Connelly is one of Europe's leading media voices on migration and has reported extensively on migration waves over the last decade in Cyprus, Greece, the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus. His work is regularly featured in Al Jazeera, Vice, the New Humanitarian and Foreign Policy. This podcast is a collaboration between FES Cyprus and Project Phoenix, a migrant-led European NGO and social enterprise dedicated to systemic change of the inclusion ecosystem. Migration 2.0 explores issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanize migrants by including and centralizing their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 4: Holly McCamant delves not only into refugee and migrant integration in Cyprus, but also in Germany and European society. She is joined by Živka Deleva, Elizabeth Kassinis, and Qais Hatefi, all who have experience working with asylum seekers and refugees in Germany and Cyprus. They discuss how refugees are impacted by decisions made on a governmental level, but also how societal perception and the media shapes their experience.

Sertac Sonan, one of the authors of the FES-Report on the social and political impact of austerity policies in north Cyprus, discusses the main findings of the report with Hubert Faustmann, the director of the FES office in Nicosia.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 3: Hubert Faustmann and Hrishabh Sandilya talk about the scenes of chaos witnessed at the Pournara Reception Center over the winter, week-long episodes of asylum seekers camped out in the cold outside the Immigration Office in Nicosia and the Council of Europe's criticism of Cyprus on the contentious issue of migrant boat pushbacks. They are joined by Etinosa Erevbenagie and Cynthia Savvides - the founders of Generation for Change - a citizens' initiative that made an invaluable contribution helping asylum seekers during this period, with food, clothing and other necessities. This podcast is a collaboration between the FES Cyprus Office and Project Phoenix, a European NGO based in Cyprus that works towards systems change and migrant inclusion. Migration 2.0 will explore issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanize migrants by including and centralizing their voices in the discourse.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 2: Hubert Faustmann and Hrishabh Sandilya discuss the outcomes of a survey that looks to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on international students in the North. They are joined by Samuel Akoni, who is the Research Director for VOIS (an international student representative body in the North), a partner organisation that executed the survey. They discuss the results of the survey and you will have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from international students about their experiences over the past year.

It is an unusual and difficult situation to be young in a country that has been divided politically for more than 55 years, and physically for more than 45 years. Ever since the referendum regarding the “Annan Plan” and the contrasting voting behaviour of the Cypriot youth on both sides of the divide, the perception of the Cypriot youth moved to the centre of research interest. On the basis of the report by Cihan Dizdaroğlu, assistant professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, Hubert Faustmann, director of the FES Office in Cyprus, Mete Hatay, Senior Research Consultant at the PRIO Cyprus Centre and the author having a lively exchange concerning this issue.

Last summer Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots opened up the ghost town of Varosha, a suburb of Famagusta, fenced off and uninhabited since the bloody division of the island in 1974. In this podcast, Mete Hatay, senior researcher at the PRIO Cyprus Center, provides interesting background information to the ghost town and discusses the political implications of the opening as well as ways forward.

In this podcast, Hubert Faustmann, Director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Cyprus and the authors of the report entitled ‘Politics and Society in north Cyprus: A Survey Study', Sertac Sonan, Ebru Küçükşener and Enis Porat, discuss the report's main findings and recommendations.

This podcast focuses on a FES-report about hate speech prevalent in public discourses circulating on the internet, e.g. social media users' offensive comments under news articles, in both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus. We talk with the three authors of the report about traditional stereotypes used in daily language as well as discourses exhibited by media outlets in their representations of political events. We also discuss the responses by authorities and civil society to hate speech incidents on both sides of the divide.

In this podcast, Hubert Faustmann, Director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Cyprus and Sertac Sonan, one of the co-authors of the Corruption Perceptions in North Cyprus: 2019 Report, discuss this year's report's findings and recommendations as well as the background of the collaboration between the authors and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Cyprus, which has started in 2016. The 2019 report is the third product of this collaboration, and the 2020 report is already in the pipeline.

Migration 2.0 Podcast - Episode 1: Hubert Faustmann and Sarah Morsheimer discuss the outcomes of a survey that looks to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Cyprus. They are joined by Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou, lead researcher for the survey. They discuss the results of the survey and you will have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of migrant experiences during the pandemic. This podcast is a collaboration between the FES Cyprus Office and Project Phoenix, a European NGO based in Cyprus that works towards systems change and migrant inclusion. Migration 2.0 will explore issues related to migration through multiple lenses. By amplifying migrant voices and shedding light on migration issues, we hope to promote inclusion, highlight the diversity of migrant experiences, and humanize migrants by including and centralizing their voices in the discourse.

In this podcast Hubert Faustmann, Director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Cyprus and Thorsten Kruse, research associate at the Cyprus Institute Münster, discuss the treatment of religious heritage in general but mainly in Cyprus where another factor is the ethnic segregation that has persisted since 1974. Thorsten Kruse, an expert in the field of religious heritage, especially in Cyprus, exemplifies the condition and the handling of religious sites like churches, mosques and cemeteries on both sides of the divide. To explore ways to preserve the island's religious heritage both physically and digitally, Kruse conducts various projects in Cyprus, which led him occasionally into quite adventurous situations. Tune in!

The post-pandemic return of Keynes with a vengeance: Under current circumstances, the private sector left to its own devices is not capable of triggering a spontaneous turn of the economy from recession to recovery. Nor can it ensure that the economy will come to rest at full utilisation of productive capacity. For a sustained GDP growth to increase the utilisation of productive capacity, government intervention in the economy is urgently called for. Increasing public investment, already financed by European funds is essential but insufficient. We are therefore proposing that the government should implement a medium-term wage-led strategy: This will increase the purchasing power of workers and thus private consumption, GDP and employment, leading in turn to a virtuous growth cycle.

In this episode, Hubert Faustmann the Director of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Cyprus talks with Hrishabh Sandilya and Sarah Morsheimer of Project Phoenix. They are currently working on a transdisciplinary study which seeks to understand the impact of the pandemic on refugees, migrants and asylum seekers (RMAs) in Cyprus. Phoenix Project is a young European social enterprise and NGO which seeks to systemically change the migrant inclusion ecosystem. Morsheimer and Sandilya present the findings of Part I of the study which provides an overview of events and impacts and lay the ground for the findings of Part II, a detailed survey which is currently being conducted.

Hubert Faustmann, the director of the FES-office in Cyprus talks with four activists and academics about the situation of the LGTBI-movement on the divided island.

Last year more than 13.000 migrants arrived on the divided island of Cyprus turning the Republic in the south into the EU member with the highest number of migrants and asylum seekers per head in the EU. This podcast discusses the reasons and consequences of this surge in numbers as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the situation of the refugees in Cyprus. Hubert Faustmann, the director of the FES Office in Cyprus talks about those issues with one of the leading experts, Nicos Trimikliniotis, Professor for Sociology and Law at the University of Nicosia and director of the Center for Fundamental Rights in Cyprus.