The music can be in continuing to build conflict bridges? Participants of this year’s “European Forum on Music in Cyprus” are convinced, and warn but at the same time, that you can also be a powerful weapon.
“If you put six politicians in a room and after half an hour the door opens, you will vaccinate each other, and beat. You on the other hand is six musicians in a room, after a half hour of music.”
Michalis this law speaks from experience. The head of the “Cyprus Music Information Center” (CyMIC) know first Hand, that musical Interaction can bring people together, even in a prolonged political conflict situation. The “Green line” is the Symbol for such a conflict in his home country. Since 1964, it forms a buffer zone between the Greek-Cypriot administered part of the South and the Turkish-Cypriot administered part of the North of the island state, which is since 2004 a member of the European Union.
On Saturday (10.6.) to overcome music this dig, by the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot musicians together in Paphos at the European Forum on Music in 2017 on the stage. The performance, a collaboration of the CyMIC and the “Cyprus Chamber Ochestra”, reflects the Motto of this year’s forum: “Linking Continents – Bridging Cultures” – “connecting continents – bridging cultures to build”.
Ian Smith at the “European Forum on Music” in 2016 in Wroclaw, Poland
Cyprus – a continental bridge
For Ian Smith, President of the “European Music School” (EMC), it was important to connect the site with the theme of the forum. “We have the bridge over the Bosphorus, connecting two continents – Europe and Asia,” said Smith of the DW, and pointed out that Cyprus is often seen as a country between Europe and the middle East.
114 delegates from over 30 countries are expected in this year’s European capital of culture in Paphos. There is a three day event with discussions and Workshops in which music as a cultural tool of diplomacy in the foreground.
Diplomacy within Europe
Under the diplomacy is especially sophisticated receptions and dinners with a strict Protocol and endless a long time shaking hands. Stef Coninx, ehemlaiger EMC-President, will lead the Forum to the “European Agenda for Music”, know that it is about to conclude with the music trenches at the local level.
Soon in peace together, is it? Music could close in Cyprus trenches
As head of “International Relations Classical Music” at the “Flanders Art Institute” in Brussels, Coninx has co-organized the “International Society for Contemporary Music World New Music Days” in 2012. This enabled a cooperation between the regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, which ultimately lead to a cultural agreement between Flanders and Wallonia. Currently Coninx takes care of Applying the “Belgium Music Days” in 2018, in which for the first Time also a Partner from the German-speaking part of Belgium will participate.
Coninx, believes that music “can bring people to talk to each other and listen to each other.” The first step of the mutual respect, on the Basis of in-depth development is possible. “So the bridge looks to build within Europe,” he told DW.
A euro-Arab bridge
The event in Paphos should also look beyond European borders and cultural ties with countries outside of Europe strengthen. Kifah Fakhouri will participate in the Forum in his function as Chairman of the “Euro-Arab Youth Music Centre” (EAYMC), which is located in Limassol, in the South of Cyprus. The Euro-Arab Initiative working with musicians between the ages of 15 and 30 years from various Arab and European countries to education and training-promoting and social music projects.
The project “Ethno Cyprus” brought together in 2016, a musician from Cyprus, Croatia , Belgium, Egypt, and Jordan
“Ethno Cyprus” was one of these projects. Music camps and a choir with 500 singers brought together young people from all over the world. “The goal is not to have professional musicians, but to understand young people, which are willing to other people through music,” said Fakhouri of the DW.
Diplomacy, or imperialism?
Music can be used as a diplomatic tool but also miss. World powers such as the USA and Western Europe will always be accused of, again, cultural imperialism under the Dekmantel diplomacy.
Ian Smith reiterated this Thesis and described in Western Europe, reputation as a “fairly dogmatic and authoritarian.” At the same time, he made it clear that musical diplomacy, “the Eastern cultures, Western cultures impose”, but to the bringing Together of people and the best possible exchange between them. In order that the functioning would have to meet the musicians at eye level and at the same time try to understand what distinguishes them.
Musicians of the “Ethno Cyprus” at a concert
Not only as an imperialist Instrument, but also to stir up hatred music can be used. Coninx, told DW that he knew a music teacher from the Balkan region, who had told him from the use of the music as a weapon during the Yugoslavian wars. She said she could feel “how the hatred spread by the music,” recalls Coninx. Whether for Good or Evil, peace or war – the music was “very powerful,” says Coninx.
“You can’t drag singing in the war”
During his time at the EAYMC Fakhouri’ve never experienced tensions or conflicts. Music did bring people in direct contact with each other to how it should be done at the Forum in Paphos, Fakhouri. In spite of everything, the music is not enough alone to settle conflicts and to make peace. “You can’t drag singing in the war,” underscore Coninx and made it clear that there also needed to be in other areas, an approach to achieve change.