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Pressing On: Reconciliation for Cyprus and the Media's Role

Forum Explores Media's Role in Facilitating Reconciliation on Divided Island

WASHINGTON-The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the largest and oldest association of American citizens of Greek heritage, will present a forum exploring the media's role in facilitating a message of reconciliation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots before the May 1, 2004 European Union accession deadline on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at the National Press Club, Washington. The program will run from 12:30 pm to 2 pm.

The forum titled "Pressing On: Reconciliation for Cyprus and the Media's Role" will delve into the effectiveness of the media in shaping public perception about the benefits that reconciliation on the divided island would bring should it occur before the May 1, 2004 EU accession deadline.

Professionals in the field of Conflict Resolution will also offer their insights on how programs between journalists have fostered an understanding of peace. Time will be allotted for questions from the audience.

The panel of distinguished speakers will include: Dr. Harry Anastasiou, professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Portland State University; Yasemin Congar, Washington bureau chief, CNN Turk and Milliyet; Süleyman Ergüçlü, general manager, KIBRIS Media Group and president of the Cyprus Turkish Journalists' Union; Loucas Fourlas, broadcast journalist, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation; and Patricia Scheid, executive director, HasNa, Inc.

"Our goal is to explore the positives of achieving peace in Cyprus and the benefits it would bring to the Eastern Mediterranean through the perspectives of journalists and professionals who have covered and worked on the issue," said AHEPA President A. Jack Georgalas.

The forum will take place at the First Amendment Lounge of the National Press Club. It is located at 529 14th Street, NW, Washington. Admission is free.

The forum is made possible through the generous funding of Phalanx 500, a development program of AHEPA. Other individual, business and organizational sponsors include: Mr. Vassos Chrysanthou, Euclid Financial Group, Inc., Dr. Takey Crist, and the Pancyprian Association of Metro Washington.