The first meeting of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Youth Matters took place on Monday at Ledra Palace.

Committee members briefly checked in with both President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar for a short discussion with the 16 members of the newly created technical committee and took a commemorative photo, before their own meeting began.

The members were appointed following a previous meeting of the two leaders.

The two leaders described the committee as the most important of the 13 bicommunal technical committees working towards a peaceful future.

The committee’s creation was initially proposed by Christodoulides, with the United Nations saying it encouraged the committee “to promote dialogue, foster engagement, and support initiatives which reflect the shared aspirations, needs and challenges of young people across the island”.

UN representative Colin Stewart said the presence of both leaders was a powerful show of support for the committee and its goals.

“This is the 13th Technical Committee, and the first new one in 10 years,” he said, adding that 2025 marks a decade since the UN’s landmark resolution on youth, peace and security.

“Here in Cyprus, we look forward to joint initiatives that reflect and respond to the needs, aspirations and challenges of all young people on the island.”

During their address to the members, Christodoulides thanked Tatar for accepting the proposal after two years of discussions.

“For me, this is the most important committee,” he said.

“We are trying to solve the Cyprus issue and shape a peaceful future on this island. You are the future of Cyprus, and we want you.”

He added, “If you drive a car while looking backwards, you will crash. You must look ahead. Lead.”

Tatar responded by saying “Today, we are making history,” and emphasised trust in young people.
“We must be realistic, there is a problem in Cyprus. But it is vital to understand one another, to open the road ahead.”

He thanked Stewart and Christodoulides, and said he would later discuss “recent developments” with the president.

“It is our responsibility to build trust between both sides,” he added.

“If we want a sustainable and successful future, we must achieve things together, not just talk.”
According to the UN representative to the committee, the session served as an introductory meeting for members to get to know each other.

“It was a getting-to-know-you session, because it’s such a large group,” he said.
“There is a great deal of experience, energy and expertise in the room.”

The committee includes entrepreneurs, legal experts, researchers, athletes, influencers and others.
The committee is co-chaired by Greek Cypriot Amalia Avraam, who also chairs the NGO Cyprus Youth DiplomaCY. Her Turkish Cypriot co-chair is Vehbi Zeki Serter, grandson of the eponymous Turkish Cypriot politician who served as the north’s ‘parliament speaker’.

The other members are Greek Cypriots Christos Parmakkis, Antonis Tampouras, Aria Askoti, Zena Papachristoforou, Ivi Theocharous, Constantinos Loizou, Maria Diplarou, Christina Dymioti, Maria Rosaria Philippou, Rosalie Gorgorian, Victor Ieronymides, Glafkos Dragoumis, Stamatis Papavasiliou and Christos Katsioloudis. The Turkish Cypriot members are Bengisu Arar, Elis Sonmez, Lal Sargun, Zehra Beyar, Asli Ozgen, Cansu Ozcezarli, Gizem Aytac, Guzide Sofi, Husrev Tancer, Senkal Bayramoglu, Ibrahim Beycanli, Erden Pekri, Huseyin Aran, Mert Nihat Ecevit, and Hilmi Birinci.

The creation of the new technical committee was announced by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the end of the enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem in Geneva in March.