Ayla Gürel was an External Associate at PRIO until 2017.
Email: NEW - aylagurel@gmail.com
Twitter: @GurelAyla
Since 2005 she has worked on several research projects about the plight of displaced persons on both sides of the island and the associated question of property rights within the context of the Cyprus problem. She has numerous publications related to these topics. Gürel has also been involved in facilitating inter-communal dialogue on property issues, including at the level of the UN-sponsored negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. Recently she has led a PRIO Cyprus Centre team on a project entitled ‘Internal Displacement in Cyprus: Mapping the Consequences of Civil and Military Strife’, (www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net). Her more recent research engagement concerns the issue of hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation offshore Cyprus.
Gürel was part of the bi-communal team that carried out in 2003-2004 PRIO’s public information project on the so-called Annan Plan (the UN Plan for ‘the Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem’). The project, which covered both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, was aimed at dissemination of objective and easily understood information on the Plan before it was put to separate simultaneous referenda on both sides of the island on 24 April 2004. Project’s activities included running a website (www.prio.no/cyprusdecides), production and distribution of booklets and leaflets, holding of public seminars and discussion, and TV and radio presentations.
Book Chapter in OSCE Yearbook 2017: Yearbook on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Book Chapter in The Political and Economic Challenges of Energy in the Middle East and North Africa
Book Chapter in The Political and Economic Challenges of Energy in the Middle East and North Africa
Book Chapter in The Future of Natural Gas Markets and Geopolitics
PRIO Cyprus Centre Report
Book Chapter in Contemporary Social and Political Aspects of the Cyprus Problem
Journal Article in Turkish Policy Quarterly
Journal Article in Euxeinos: Governance and Culture in the Black Sea Region
Journal Article in The International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs
PRIO Cyprus Centre Report
During the International Seminar-Book Presentation: The Future of Natural Gas: Market and Geopolitics, organised by The International Affairs Institute (IAI) and the OCP Policy Center, Rabat 27.05.16
To celebrate
the occasion, the PCC organized on 6 June an event in the Nicosia Buffer
Zone. The evening started with a panel presentation and discussion,
held at the Home for Cooperation, followed by a cocktail reception at
the Ledra Palace Hotel.
The panel discussion focused on the history of
PRIO and the PCC, outlining on the challenges faced in the process of
peace promotion in Cyprus and presenting the tangible outcomes of peace
research throughout the past decade. Panelists also discussed the
principles, vision and logic of Norwegian support for conflict
resolution, as well as of the contribution of the EEA/Norway grants
funding mechanism. The panel brought together the current and former PCC
Directors Harry Tzimitras, Greg Reichberg, Arne Strand and Gina Lende,
the Director of PRIO Kristian Berg Harpviken, Amb. Ingrid Schulerud,
Head of the EEA/Norway grants and the UNFICYP Force Commander, Maj. Gen.
Kristin Lund. The event was well attended by members of the diplomatic
community and international organizations, political party and civil
society representatives from both sides of the island, academicsand many
friends of the PCC.
Please note the Centre has relocated to the old part of Nicosia (within the Venetian walls). All other contact details remain unchanged.
The development of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean was the focus of the PRIO Cyprus Centre (PCC) annual conference held on 14 November 2013 in Nicosia. The conference was a success on several fronts. Firstly, it effectively combined perspectives of senior scholars and analysts with the views from energy industry experts. Secondly, the success of the conference further enhances PCC's reputation as a leader in facilitating dialogue and research on Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbons.
www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net
On 30 September, PCC launched a new website “Internal Displacement in Cyprus: Mapping the Consequences of Civil and Military Strife” (www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net) with funding from the EU, The website includes an interactive map with demographic details for over 400 towns and villages affected by displacement since 1958, personal accounts of displacement (based on interviews), a compilation of legal materials relating to displacement and property, and a documentary. The website will serve as a public platform for the presentation of PCC research on issues of displacement and property, in the years to come.
This report by Ayla Gürel and Kudret Özersay was originally published as a PRIO Report in English. It is now available in Turkish and Greek.
Today, the PRIO Cyprus Centre is launching two publications: One PRIO Report about the Politics of Property in Cyprus, and one Conference Proceedings from the Annual conference of the Centre in November 06 on Economic Perspectives in Cyprus.