The Cyprus Problem: Its International Dimension and the Role of Young People
The year 2025 marked 51 years since the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus. The Cyprus Youth Council (CYC) has consistently advocated for the rights of all young people in Cyprus, working toward peace-building and reconciliation across the divide. It has taken extensive steps to ensure inclusivity of Turkish Cypriot youth. In spring 2025, the CYC launched a new round of discussions with Turkish Cypriot organisations to deepen cooperation.
The CYC envisions a free and reunited Cyprus, a common homeland of all Cypriots — Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites, and Latins — as foreseen in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, serving as a model of peaceful coexistence, stability, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
As the broadest platform representing youth in Europe, the European Youth Forum has a statutory obligation to uphold and protect its founding principles, including democracy, peace, human rights, and the rule of law. The Cyprus Problem is a test of these principles.
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