Meeting with Elizabeth Spehar

Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

Keen to find ways for the United Nations to add value outside of traditional peace-keeping in Cyprus, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and Head of the United National Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar visited Mayor and RISE Board Chairman Constantinos Yiorkadjis on September 3.  While enjoying the breathtaking view of tragically divided Nicosia from atop the new municipality building, the Mayor and Spehar discussed RISE’s vision, mission and potential as well as its island-wide orientation along with RISE CEO Spyros Nicolaou and other UNFICYP and RISE team members. 

Spehar was interested to hear how RISE was already supporting multiple cultural heritage initiatives that highlight Cyprus’ multicultural past and of RISE’s close working relationship with the EU-funded Innovative Entrepreneurship project that will be housed in the Bandopolyo building a few short meters over the Green Line from RISE’s future premises.  Appreciating the importance of reaching the youth, she was particularly encouraged to hear of the robust response to RISE’s two recent youth-oriented programs, the STEM and Gaming camp for high school students and the Summer Internship program for university researchers, and of RISE’s support to young entrepreneurship endeavors like those led by CyprusInno and Cyprus Enterprise Link.  Spehar wished RISE every success as it continues to grow and echoed the Mayor’s hope that RISE will find innovative ways to work with the UN in historic Nicosia and beyond.




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