AHDR Hosts Visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Home for Cooperation

The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and the Home for Cooperation were honoured to welcome German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his distinguished delegation of officials on the 12th of February. This visit reaffirms Germany’s commitment to peacebuilding in Cyprus, with President Steinmeier expressing his support for the ‘Imagine’ project and highlighting the value of peace education.

Since its launch in 2017 with the support of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the ‘Imagine’ project has been instrumental in bridging the divides between the communities in Cyprus.

Despite challenges, including its unilateral suspension by the current Turkish Cypriot leadership in October 2022, the project continues to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between educators and students in both communities outside of school hours.

AHDR’s Co-Presidents, Board members and Director provided President Steinmeier and his delegation with an overview of the project’s impact and extensive reach. This visit highlights the collective desire of all stakeholders to advance the project as originally envisioned and galvanises hope for renewing momentum towards achieving its objectives of unity and dialogue among the Cypriot communities.

The AHDR appreciates the ongoing support of the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany and remains dedicated to advancing the ‘Imagine’ project’s crucial role in fostering peace through education in Cyprus. The organization is hopeful and steadfast in its belief that through sustained effort and collaboration, the ‘Imagine’ project will continue to play a pivotal role in peace education, the eradication of discrimination and the promotion of dialogue and understanding.