In this edition of the "FES Cyprus Podcast - Beyond the Divide," Professor Hubert Faustmann, the director of the office, is joined by Professor Ahmet Sözen from Diplomeds and Laury Haytayan, the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Natural Resource Governance Institute. They delve into a discussion regarding the exploration of natural gas reserves in Cyprus, which has opened up new opportunities for cooperation in the conflict. Sözen proposes fresh perspectives and policy recommendations to break the current deadlock. Moreover, Haytayan explains how the agreement between Israel and Lebanon was achieved and addresses the question of whether it could serve as a model to foster cooperation, inclusivity, and ultimately peace in the region, with a specific focus on Cyprus.

The episode is partially based on a chapter authored by Prof. Sözen in a Diplomeds policy study titled "Conflict Resolution in the Mediterranean: Energy as a Potential Game-Changer". The study explores the energy-related aspects of major conflicts in the Mediterranean, specifically focusing on Cyprus, Israel-Lebanon, and Morocco-Algeria. Find the whole report under the following link: https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/zypern/20302.pdf.