Ayla Gürel

Senior Research Consultant

Ayla Gürel
Ayla Gürel left PRIO in 2017. The information on this page is kept for historical reasons.

Background

​​​​​​Since 2005 she has worked on several research projects about the plight of displaced persons on both sides of the island and the associated question of property rights within the context of the Cyprus problem. She has numerous publications related to these topics. Gürel has also been involved in facilitating inter-communal dialogue on property issues, including at the level of the UN-sponsored negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. Recently she has led a PRIO Cyprus Centre team on a project entitled ‘Internal Displacement in Cyprus: Mapping the Consequences of Civil and Military Strife’, (www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net). Her more recent research engagement concerns the issue of hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation offshore Cyprus.

Gürel was part of the bi-communal team that carried out in 2003-2004 PRIO’s public information project on the so-called Annan Plan (the UN Plan for ‘the Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem’). The project, which covered both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, was aimed at dissemination of objective and easily understood information on the Plan before it was put to separate simultaneous referenda on both sides of the island on 24 April 2004. Project’s activities included running a website (www.prio.no/cyprusdecides), production and distribution of booklets and leaflets, holding of public seminars and discussion, and TV and radio presentations.

Publications

PCC Report

Gürel, Ayla; Harry Tzimitras; & Hubert Faustmann, eds, (2016) Global Energy Debates and the Eastern Mediterranean, PRIO Cyprus Centre Report, 1. Cyprus: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; Harry Tzimitras; & Hubert Faustmann, eds, (2014) East Mediterranean Hydrocarbons: Geopolitical Perspectives, Markets, and Regional Cooperation, PRIO Cyprus Centre Report, 3. Cyprus : PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; Fiona Mullen; & Harry Tzimitras (2013) The Cyprus Hydrocarbons Issue: Context, Positions and Future Scenarios, PRIO Report, 1. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Faustmann, Hubert; Ayla Gürel; & Gregory M. Reichberg, eds, (2012) Cyprus Offshore Hydrocarbons: Regional Politics and Wealth Distribution, PRIO Cyprus Centre Report, 1. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; Mete Hatay; & Christalla Yakinthou (2012) An Overview of Events and Perceptions, Displacement in Cyprus - Consequences of Civil and Military Strife, 5. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla (2012) Turkish Cypriot Legal Framework, Displacement in Cyprus - Consequences of Civil and Military Strife, 4. Nicosia : PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla (2012) Το Τουρκοκυπριακό Νομικό Πλαίσιο [Turkish Cypriot Legal Framework], O Εκτοπισμός στην Κύπρο - Οι Συνέπειες της Πολιτειακής και της Στρατιωτικής Διαμάχης, 4. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla (2012) Kıbrıslı Türklerin Yarattığı Yasal Çerçeve [Turkish Cypriot Legal Framework], Kıbrıs’ta yerinden olmak - Sivil ve Askeri Çatışmanın sonuçları, 4. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; Mete Hatay; & Christalla Yakinthou (2012) Olaylar ve Algılamalara Genel Bir Bakış [An Overview of Events and Perceptions], Kıbrıs’ta yerinden olmak - Sivil ve Askeri Çatışmanın sonuçları, 5. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
(2012) Κυπριακοί Υπεράκτιοι Υδρογονάνθρακες: Περιφερειακή πολιτική και κατανομή του πλούτου [Cyprus Offshore Hydrocarbons: Regional Politics and Wealth Distribution], PRIO Cyprus centre Report, 1. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
(2012) Kıbrıs Deniz Hidrokarbonları: Bölgesel Siyaset ve Servet Dağılımı [Cyprus Offshore Hydrocarbons: Regional Politics and Wealth Distribution], PRIO Cyprus centre Report, 1. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; & Kudret Özersay (2006) The Politics of Property in Cyprus: Conflicting Appeals to 'Bizonality' and 'Human Rights' by the Two Cypriot Communities, PRIO Cyprus Centre Report, 3. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; & Kudret Özersay (2006) Η Πολιτική Πτυχή του Περιουσιακού Προβλήματος στην Κύπρο: Αλληλοσυγκρουόμενες Eπικλήσεις στη «Διζωνικότητα» και τα «Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα» από τις δύο Κυπριακές Κοινότητες [The Politics of Property in Cyprus: Conflicting Appeals to 'Bizonality' and 'Human Rights' by the Two Cypriot Communities], PRIO Cyprus centre Report, 3. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Gürel, Ayla; & Kudret Özersay (2006) Kıbrıs’ta Mülkiyet ve Siyaset: Kıbrıs’taki İki Toplumun ‘İki Bölgelilik’ ve ‘İnsan Hakları’ Temelindeki Çatışması [The Politics of Property in Cyprus: Conflicting Appeals to 'Bizonality' and 'Human Rights' by the Two Cypriot Communities], PRIO Cyprus centre Report, 3. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.

PCC Paper

Williams, Rhodri & Ayla Gürel (2011) The European Court of Human Rights and the Cyprus Property Issue, PRIO Cyprus Centre Paper. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.

Peer-reviewed Journal Article

Gürel, Ayla & Harry Tzimitras (2015) Beyond Energy: Remarks about the Direction of Turkish-Russian Relations and Their Implications for the Cyprus Problem, Euxeinos: Governance and Culture In the Black Sea Region(18): 28–38.
Gürel, Ayla & Laura Le Cornu (2014) Can Gas Catalyse Peace in the Eastern Mediterranean?, The International Spectator: Italian Journal of International Affairs 49(2): 11–33.
Gürel, Ayla (2009) Eigentums- und Bevölkerungsfragen im geteilten Zypern [Population and property issues in divided Cyprus], Aus Politik Und Zeitgeschichte(12): 14–18.
Gürel, Ayla & Kudret Özersay (2008) Property and Human Rights in Cyprus: The European Court of Human Rights as a Platform of Political Struggle, Middle Eastern Studies 44(2): 291–321.
Gürel, Ayla; & Özersay, Kudret (2006) Cyprus and the Politics of Property, Mediterranean Politics 11(3): 349–369.

Book Chapter

Tzimitras, Harry & Ayla Gürel (2018) Cyprus: Energy Hopes and Political Troubles, in The Political and Economic Challenges of Energy In the Middle East and North Africa. London: Routledge (156–168).
Gürel, Ayla (2016) Eastern Mediterranean Gas: Source of Prosperity for the Region?, in Colombo, Silvia; Mohamed El Harrak; & Nicolò Sartori, eds, The Future of Natural Gas Markets and Geopolitics. Netherlands: Lenthe/European Energy Review (117–138).
Gürel, Ayla (2016) Offshore Gas: An Anticatalyst in Efforts to Reunify Cyprus, in Warner, Jonathan ; David W. Lovell ; & Michalis Kontos , eds, Contemporary Social and Political Aspects of the Cyprus Problem. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing (58–89).
Gürel, Ayla & Olga Demetriou (2011) Human Rights, Civil Society and Conflict in Cyprus, in Civil Society, Conflicts and the Politicization of Human Rights. Tokyo: United Nations University Press (100–122).
Gürel, Ayla (2011) The Cyprus Property Dispute: Perspectives and ProspectsThe Isolated Part of Cyprus . VVM Publishing(70–78).
Özersay, Kudret & Ayla Gürel (2009) The Cyprus Problem at the European Court of Human Rights, in Cyprus: a Conflict at the Crossroads. Manchester: Manchester University Press (273–291).

Edited Volume

Gürel, Ayla; Harry Tzimitras; & Hubert Faustmann, eds, (2014) East Mediterranean Hydrocarbons - Geopolitical Perspectives, Markets, and Regional Cooperation. Nicosia: PRIO Cyprus Centre.

Non-refereed Journal Article

Gürel, Ayla & Harry Tzimitras (2016) Cyprus Settlement Negotiations: From Euphoria to Reality, Turkish Policy Quarterly 15(1): 51–63.

Popular Article

Gürel, Ayla (2009) Property, Bizonality, and Reunification, Sunday Mail.
Gürel, Ayla (2009) Property, Bizonality, and Reunification, Revma, 13 May.
Gürel, Ayla & Kudret Özersay (2008) Die Eigentumspolitik auf Zypern: Bizonalitat und Menschenrechte-kontraere Argumente der zwei zyprischen Gemeinschaften. Auf Zypern: Herausforderungen und Perspektiven [The Politics of Property in Cyprus: Bizonality and Human Rights in the two Cypriot Societies], Auf Zypern: Herausforderungen Und Perspektiven, 10 August.

Conference Paper

Gürel, Ayla 2009Human Rights and the Cyprus Conflict, presented at SHUR project final conference4–6 June.
Gürel, Ayla & Kudret Özersay (2007) The Cyprus Property Issue: A Matter of Principle or CompromiseFamagusta, Cyprus, 24–26 October.
Gürel, Ayla 2005The Propery Issue in the Cyprus Negotiations, presented at Peacebuildiing in Divided Societies26 November.

Report - Other

Alexiou, Alexis; Ayla Gürel; Mete Hatay; & Yiouli Taki (2003) The Annan Plan for Cyprus: A Citizen's GuideNicosia: PRIO.

Report - External Series

Demetriou, Olga; & Ayla Gürel (2008) Human Rights, Civil Society and Conflict in Cyprus: Exploring the Relationships, SHUR Working Paper Series, 3. Rome: SHUR.
Demetriou, Olga; & Gürel, Ayla (2008) Η Κοινωνία των Πολιτών στο Κυπριακό Πρόβληµα [Human Rights, Civil Society and Conflict in Cyprus: Exploring the Relationships], SHUR Working Paper Series , 3. SHUR.
Demetriou, Olga; & Gürel, Ayla (2008) Kıbrıs İhtilafı’nda Sivil Toplum ve İnsan Hakları [Human Rights, Civil Society and Conflict in Cyprus: Exploring the Relationships], SHUR Working Paper Series , 3. SHUR.
Gürel, Ayla (2007) Can the European Union Help 'Reunite' Cyprus?, Cyprus an Accession: Getting Past ‘No’. Oxford.

Book Review

Gürel, Ayla (2007) Review of Subcontracting Peace: The Challenges of NGO Peacebuilding, in Cyprus Review 19(2): 137–141.

Related pages