- I am proud that Norway has helped to finance this unique meeting place, and I hope that it will foster deeper understanding between the people on this divided island, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a message to the centre.
In the presence of the Greek Cypriot leader, Demetris Christofias, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Derviþ Eroðlu, the Home for Cooperation (H4C) was officially opened 6 May. The two leaders expressed their strong support to the Home and their hopes for it to play role in strengthening cooperation and dialogue between the two communities on the island.
. Photo: FMOThe building has a history. In the 1950s, it was situated right across the street from the most luxurious hotel in Nicosia. From 1974 it found itself in the middle of the demilitarised buffer zone. Only a small shop on the ground floor that produced and sold T-shirts to the UN peacekeeping forces remained.
Now, in 2011, it has been revamped as a “Home for Cooperation”. Situated in an area that used to be inaccessible for people from both north and south of the buffer zone, it represents a unique meeting place.
The centre is to be an arena for young people, students, teachers, researchers and others who want an opportunity to meet and take part in dialogues and discussions. It houses a library, an archive, office facilities for NGOs, conference facilities and a café.
Read also on the EEA Grants-Norway Grants webpage the contribution from guest writer, Yiannis Papadakis from the University of Cyprus, on the situation in Cyprus and how initiatives such as the Home for Cooperation are needed to overcome distrust and help towards creating a dialogue among opposing historical narratives between the two communities in Cyprus.
Meet the people behind the Home for Cooperation:
Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Norway has provided most of the financing (750 000 euro). Norway was represented at the opening by Ambassador Ingrid Schulerud and Ambassador Sverre Stub.