Basic HTML Version
65
Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Diplomacy in Practice
“I
ntercultural Dialogue and Cultural Diplo-
macy in Practice” was the inaugural con-
ference of the University of Nicosia’s Cyprus
Centre for Intercultural Studies, which was
held on 15 January, 2013, at the University of
Nicosia’s UNESCO Amphitheatre.
The conference investigated cultural diploma-
cy as a key supplemental or alternative tool for
doing politics. Topics explored included: the
function of cultural diplomacy in today’s po-
litical climate, the practical implementation of
cultural diplomacy, opportunities and challeng-
es in intercultural communication, and the role
of the arts in redefining cultural and political
difference. The overall aim of the conference
was to look at the political nature of culture and
consider to what extent culturally-based poli-
tics in particular can be beneficial in bringing
together divided communities.
Speakers from Cyprus, the UK and Israel took
part in the inaugural conference, including the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Erato Kozakou-
Marcoullis, who stated that using cultural diplo-
macy as a political tool was something that had
not yet been properly looked into by the academ-
ic community of Cyprus. She also made special
reference to the cultural agenda of the Cyprus
Presidency of the Council of the European Un-
ion, which recently concluded.
Also speaking at the conference was the former
Deputy Secretary General of the United Na-
tions and former Deputy Foreign Minister of
the UK, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown. Lord
Malloch-Brown analysed the benefits of cultur-
al diplomacy, adding that even though efforts
among citizens often proved beneficial, inter-
cultural contact could not act as a substitute for
national interests.
Speeches were also made by the Greek Cyp-
riot coordinator of the Cyprus Friendship Pro-
gramme, Mr Nicos Anastasiou, the Associate
Professor of International Relations at the East-
ern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, Dr
Erol Kaymak, and the Director of Peace Child
Israel, Ms Melisse Lewine-Boskovitz.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the
Council of the University of Nicosia, Dr Nicos
Peristianis, said: “The University of Nicosia, as
a multicultural academic institution, depended
on intercultural discourse from the start, as a
means and condition for the successful inclu-
sion of persons with a different national origin,
religion and culture to the academic procedure.”
He also added that the new Centre would make
interculturalism a subject of research and study.
The conference was co-organised with the Frie-
drich Ebert Foundation and co-sponsored by
the Cyprus Academic Forum and the UNESCO
Chair on Cultural Diversity and Intercultural
Dialogue for a Culture of Peace. Phileleftheros
newspaper was the communication sponsor.
Minister of ForeignAffairs, Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis