 |
A. Marco Turk with Oslo Group (26 Greek Cypriots and
26 Turkish Cypriots)--Oslo Norway July 1998.
He is front row center with his hands on his knees. |
The European program vividly illustrates the wide range of
opportunities available to scholars to lecture, conduct research
and make important contributions to their fields. Easing ethnic
strife between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, for
example, was the goal of a University of California-Irvine law
and society lecturer's recent two-year Fulbright assignment
in Cyprus. The initial intent of Professor A. Marco Turk was
to serve as a lecturer and consultant in domestic violence conflict
resolution, using a specially designed mediation process called
the Family Peacemakers Program (Beck and Turk, 1996). After
completing his first training session, however, he found himself
in demand for training in conflict management related to the
island's larger political and social situation. During his term,
Professor Turk conducted 24 such training programs, gave numerous
presentations and lectures, participated in conferences and
attempted to revitalize bicommunal groups.
 |
Turkish Cypriots give A. Marco Turk a surprise birthday
party (May 1998). He is seated in second row with his
wife (Kathryn) seated next to him on his right. To Kathryn's
right is her mother (Gerry Bushman). To Gerry's right
is Judy Baroody, American Embassy Public Affairs officer
and Chairman of Cyprus Fulbright Commission. Judy's husband
(Richard Krueger) is in the last row (gray hair and ties). |
Unfortunately, because of a December 1997 ban
on bicommunal activities on the island, Professor Turk was forced
to conduct succeeding workshops in monocommunal settings, offering
the same workshops to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots in their
respective communities. He strived, however, for the experience
of a bicommunal audience and managed to secure additional funding
to take groups off the island for extended periods. One of the
most successful of these trainings occurred in July 1998 with
a group of 52 people (26 from each community) who traveled to
Oslo, Norway, for an intensive one-week training program in
peace-building efforts. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo served
as in-country coordinators for this program. Six months later,
Professor Turk organized a follow-up meeting in Oslo. This second
effort received Fulbright funding as well as financial support
from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the U.S.-Norway
Fulbright Foundation and the Peace Research Institute. The 31
Cypriots from both communities who participated composed a draft
of shared values and possible suggestions for a peaceful solution
to the situation in Cyprus.
While he could not conduct his training programs
bicommunally on the island because of the time demands on the
participants, Professor Turk was instrumental in discovering
alternate ways to arrange for people from both communities to
continue bicommunal contact for shorter periods. He worked to
establish the use of the one remaining bicommunal village of
Pyla, as well as the British Sovereign Base area of Pergamos/Dhekelia,
for intercommunal meetings on a regular (even if limited in
time) basis that continues to this day.
 |
Cyprus Police Academy "Advanced Mediation Skills
Training" |
Although Professor Turk has returned to the United States,
he has left the Cypriots with a lasting legacy. During his assignment,
he instructed a core group of committed individuals from both
communities how to train others in conflict management skills
and mediation. He envisions the eventual establishment of a
mediation center in Cyprus, which would enable this type of
training to continue in a bicommunal setting. For the time being,
he has seen his mediation trainees organize mediation associations
in both communities. In addition, he maintains regular e-mail
contact with the members of his training programs and with the
Oslo group, who are now considered among the front runners of
the bicommunal movement in Cyprus.
Please contact us
if you would like to submit your own story and/or photographs.
|
