Conciliation – Peace Economics Network

Contact Information

• Where – Cyprus (Europe)
• Contact Person – Costas Apostolides
• Email – costas@highwaycommunications.com
• Address – PO Box 20209, Nicosia, 1665, Cyprus

Areas of Expertise

Conciliation – Peace Economics Network has expertise in a range of areas, including:

• Local Economic Development
• Policy-Making and Research
• Regional and Cross Border Co-operation

Main Aims and Objectives

To encourage research and bring together people interested in the concept of peace economics as a form of facilitating transformation and thereby contributing to fostering peace and conflict resolution.

Upholding the Principles of Conflict Transformation

Conciliation draws on the experience gained since 2004 in examining how economics may facilitate transformation by addressing issues that are causes of economic disparities between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus, and the influence of trade and economic interaction on the creation of mutual interests contributing to transformation. The members were initially drawn from the Peace Economics Consortium that undertook the UNDP ACT studies on Economic Interdependence in Cyprus under contract from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. Conciliation has responded positively to international interest in the concept and has presented the studies and the concept to various NGO’s and others from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well to Palestinian groups. The aim of Conciliation is to develop the concept within the scope of transformation of conflicts with a view to facilitating reconciliation and conflict resolution, and to encourage cooperation with other organizations or academics that have similar interests.

Where and with Whom?

Conciliation and its members cooperate with UNDP, chambers of Commerce, Universities, NGO’s and academics, and individuals interested in the concepts and methodology.

Main Activities in the Field of Conflict Transformation

Conciliation – Peace Economics Network is engaged in:

• 1. Economic studies between areas, groups, communities and nationalities that are in conflict, with a view to identifying the level of economic cooperation and how such cooperation can be extended.
• 2. Examining problems (particulally economic) between groups in conflict with a view to encouraging the resolution of conflicts.
• 3. Examining the issues of the peace dividend.
• 4. Examining issues relating to the economics of peace processes and implementation of agreements.
• 5. Facilitating the negotiation of conflict resolution, with special reference to economic issues.