ELDERS’ CHAIR Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his fellow Elder Dr Gro Brundtland will travel to Cyprus on February 8 and 9 to support the release of a documentary film called “Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future.”
On 10 February they will also join their fellow Elder Lakhdar Brahimi at special screenings of the film in London at the British parliament, and with members of the Cypriot diaspora.
The documentary film follows three Elders – Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi and Jimmy Carter – and four young Cypriots from the north and south of the island as they learn of the search for the remains of thousands of missing people in Cyprus.
The Elders hope that the film and their visit will be helpful in encouraging dialogue and understanding between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, both of whom have suffered tragic losses in past conflict.
The Elders or the Global Elders is an international non-government organisation of public figures noted as elder statesmen, peace activists, and human rights advocates, brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007. The goal of the group is to solve global problems, including the Cyprus issue. The Elders, which is chaired by former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, first visited Cyprus in 2009.
“The experience of meeting four wonderful young people, two Turkish Cypriots and two Greek Cypriots, who have formed close bonds of trust and friendship, fills me with hope. We made a difficult journey together as you will see in the film,” Archbishop Tutu said. “It is not easy to face the terrible truths of what has happened on this island. But our young friends, and many other Cypriots, are doing so with courage and compassion. I hope that this film will assist the process of healing.”
Lakhdar Brahimi who appears in the film with President Carter and Archbishop Tutu said: “Of course we are hopeful that the leaders and the people of Cyprus will ultimately find a political solution to this long conflict. What we have also seen in the search for the missing is that people are already working together in very important ways, and this should be encouraged to a much greater extent.”
Dr Gro Brundtland, who visited Nicosia, Athens and Ankara with Brahimi in 2009, will join her fellow Elders in Cyprus and London.
Dr Brundtland said: “It will be a pleasure to return to Cyprus to support the launch of this documentary. I also look forward to discussions with political leaders and civil society in Cyprus. Following their recent meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Geneva, we hope to hear from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders about their views on the way ahead and we offer our support for all those working for a lasting agreement.”
“Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future” is a 36-minute documentary film, made by Cypriot film makers for The Elders Foundation.
The documentary will be launched on February 8 at Chateau Status restaurant in the Buffer Zone in Nicosia. The event is by invitation only, but the film will be broadcast on local television soon.
