As artists and intellectuals from both communities in Cyprus, where there are such great obstacles to contact and mutual exchange, you have found a way to communicate through art, to persue creative dialogue and to sustain those links through which we build tolerance and understanding in our daily lives. We must all work together to achieve the transition from a culture of war and confrontation to a culture of peace, dialogue and understanding. This is the core of UNESCO´s mission.

UNESCO is glad to be associated with your meeting by having granted its sponsorship. Since it was established, UNESCO has dedicated itself to facilitating dialogue and cooperation, in particular through initiatives in the fields of education, science and culture.

I hope your workshop will lead to more extensive cooperation between the intellectual circles of both communities in Cyprus, allowing new bridges to be built. The follow-up activities which you plan to organise will show the richness and power of culture. I am confident that the Gotland meeting will be the first in a process, showing that no borders can prevent culture from uniting people.

I wish you every success in your endeavours, and I look forward to hearing of their outcome.

Federico Mayor