Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on Sunday said he hoped culture would prevail over violence and power in the medium to long term. In an Eid al-Fitr message, he warned that “reason and conscience are on pause” as humanity continues to suffer.
Call for dialogue and rules
According to the Turkish Cypriot press, Erhurman said a defining feature of civilisation is the ability to resolve problems through dialogue and rules rather than conflict or war, both within societies and at the international level.
He said humanity has paid a heavy price for what he described as uncivilised behaviour, adding that after major conflicts, societies have consistently turned to dialogue and rule-making in pursuit of more peaceful coexistence.
Power dynamics and consequences
Erhurman said stronger actors often create conditions where force becomes decisive when it serves their interests, while weaker actors that adopt similar approaches tend to suffer the consequences.
Recurring cycle of conflict
He said each major conflict has ultimately reinforced the need for dialogue, but that humanity remains trapped in a recurring cycle.
What do you think would help shift international disputes from force to dialogue and rule-making?