An Indigenous Approach to Conflict, Migration, Negotiation and Mediation Across the People from Different Languages and Religions: The Cyprus Example

Senih Cavusoglu ^{1 *}

Abstract

Cyprus is a small island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea. It has about the same size as the state of Connecticut with 660,000 inhabitants. The population of the island, according to the US State Department consists of: Greek-Cypriots 78%, Turkish-Cypriots 18%, Armenian, Maronite and Latin-Cypriots 4%. They were dispersed all over the island, mosques and churches can still be found side by side and members of one community worked in the business of the other. Both Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been living on the island of Cyprus for almost five centuries. Generally all their social habits, productions, consumptions, fears, happiness, enjoyment ways, and sadness have always been the same. Being different, their religions and languages couldn’t obstruct this; they’ve shared the same faith. Although getting cross with each other in the past, the commonality of even the sorrow they felt is a proof that these communities possess a resolution culture, and not a conflict one! In this study, the aim of resolution, instead of positive phenomenon will be reached via a negative phenomenon as a result of conflict. The aim will be tried to achieved by the help of messages inherited selected examples from the 150 works (suitcases) that took place in a happening, and my own work (suitcase) called ‘Here are your pins grandmother’. The happening was titled Nomadifesta 2004(**) organized by Artrageous Group (***) (on the 22nd of May 2004, at Kasteliotissa Space, Nicosia Cyprus) and invited artists and designers, local and international, were asked to use a suitcase not only as a simple means of transporting belongings, but as a platform for the expression of one’s personal statement and as an arena of exchange and communication about migration.

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