In January 1996, immediately after the Imia crisis, an article written was published in the daily press written by Margarita Papandreou, President of KEDE (Center for Research and Action on Peace) regarding Greek – Turkish relationship. The impact of the article was very positive in both countries and consequently the idea of a Greek - Turkish women’s approach and dialogue was born.

Three months later contacts with women’s organizations in Turkey and Greece were made. The enthusiasm encouraged us to push forward the idea. The first meeting between Greek and Turkish women was arranged in Athens, November 28-29, 1997. The meeting was carried out in a friendly environment, and a concrete,  fruitful discussion was held. The details for a larger meeting of women’s delegation were spelled out and a statement of purpose was development by both sides.  A draft of the minutes of the November preparatory meeting was prepared.

According to our opinion and our initial assessment our initiative is useful and productive, and we anticipate that its impact will be multidimensional. It is easier for women to focus on many issues that are common and frictionless, and unite us more than the issues that divide us. But even if we are dealing with differences, we manage in a different way. Our way of thinking, inspired by women’s values on preserving life, promoting equality and safeguarding peace, inevitably help to build confidence and trust, elements urgently needed in order to reverse the dangerous roads of contest and confrontation between our two countries, and to achieve true security.

In the beginning of the new millennium human values must be dominant. Our values for peaceful conflict resolution are advantageous for this purpose. We are able to create better relations being remote from official bureaucratic inflexibility, and from competitive and powerful actions that can end up in irreversible results. Void of tension and insecurity, a sincere dialogue with mutual respect and understanding is on of our methods of developing the foundations for a culture of peace. 
 

The Role of Rural Women in Regional Development

	Joint meeting announcement. Petra is important for this meeting’s agenda because it is the location of the Greece’s first Women’s Agricultural Cooperation, which was established in 1983
	Turkey and Greek members begin the joint meeting
	Saying farewell at the port

The women also joined the World March of Women Against Violence and Poverty, which took place between two Belgian cities.

WINPEACE members had the opportunity to talk with Anna Diamantopoulou, the EC Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, as well have discussions with Mr. Giorgios Katiforis, member of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, and attend a briefing by Ms. Theolin, the president of the EC Commission for Women. The members also had the opportunity to sit in on the discussions for the EU-Turkish Relations at the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. 

Ankara Film Festival

	Opening ceremonies - By Margarita Papandreou
	UCAN Sururge and WINPEACE - By Fotini Sianou, WINPEACE Greece