17th Round of the Heybeliada Talks

GPoT Center organized the 17th Round of the Heybeliada Talks in Nicosia’s Buffer Zone on 29th November 2014 with the aim of supporting the search for a comprehensive and peaceful settlement in Cyprus. 

The event, which was sponsored by the Open Society Foundation in Turkey, took place with the participation of approximately 20 civil society activists, political and opinion leaders, experts, journalists, academics, and analysts from Turkey, Greece and both sides in Cyprus.

During the 17th round, the participants exchanged their views on how to contribute to the progress of the talks with second track channels as well as on the role of hydrocarbons and trade in the process. The meeting was held under the Chatham House Rules in order to provide the participants with a sincere and open platform for discussion.

The Heybeliada Talks have served as a multilateral dialogue platform since July 2008. The 17 meetings conducted up until today have provided Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, and representatives from Turkey and Greece with the opportunity to engage in frank discussions on issues pertaining to the solution of the Cyprus question in parallel with the official negotiations. Originally started on the island of Heybeliada in the Sea of Marmara, the meetings were later relocated to Nicosia’s Buffer Zone.