Battlemesh v16 & OpenWrt Summit 2024

• Dates: Wednesday 2024-05-15 to Sunday 2024-05-19

• OpenWrt Summit Dates: Saturday 2024-05-18 to Sunday 2024-05-19

• Location: Cyprus
• Mail orga crew contact: v16 at battlemesh.org

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The Wireless Battle Mesh is a non-commercial, volunteer-organized annual convention.

The convention features a variety of talks and workshops on technical and political issues related to mesh networking, wireless community networks and OpenWrt firmware development.

The purpose of the event is to further topics such as right to connectivity, community-owned infrastructure and related free open source projects.

Cyprus Disclosure From Arınç, Loizos, and Organisers

Is Cyprus safe?

Yes, it is.

Why make the event in Cyprus?

In Battlemesh v15 in Barcelona, I proposed to host the next Battlemesh in Cyprus. There are certain reasons I proposed Cyprus. As the Battlemesh community is majorly European, I want to bring European attention to the situation Cyprus, a European Union member state, is in. If you've never heard of "The Cyprus Problem" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_problem), this will be a great event to bring awareness to it.

Cyprus is an island country located in the Mediterranean, east of Greece and south of Türkiye. It has been divided into two parts, with a "Green Line" buffer zone controlled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Green Line goes through the middle of the capital city, Nicosia, dividing the round shaped city center into two half circles.

The southern part of Cyprus is governed by the Cyprus Government as defined by the constitution of Cyprus Ratified August 16, 1960 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Cyprus). The northern part of the island is governed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognised recognised only by Türkiye.

There's no active conflict. Crossing points are open. Cypriots and tourists can visit the both sides of the island.

The first crossing point across the Green Line was opened in 23 April 2003. https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/04/23/keeping-hope-alive-two-decades-of-crossings/

The Nicosia International Airport is stuck in the buffer zone. It's like a time capsule in there, the ad posters from the 70s are still there.

The point of this event is to present Cyprus as a whole. I want to bring Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together in this event. I want people to hear their problems, what they hope to happen in Cyprus in the future. It will be great to make the Cypriots feel included in a European event like ours. More people aware of the Cyprus problem means more eyes on the situation which will help reaching a long overdue solution to this problem.

Are we taking sides?

We support the negotiation efforts by the UN, EU and the Republic of Cyprus. We're contributing to this effort by bringing international attention, and providing opportunities of social interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The locations of the event?

We're planning to do the event on both sides. We encourage Turkish Cypriots to cross to the southern location and Greek Cypriots to the northern location. Most Turkish Cypriots are already citizens of the Republic of Cyprus so they can get to south just as Greek Cypriots can go north.

I am in talks with the UNFICYP to get a permit to visit the Nicosia International Airport in the buffer zone. Our visit there will be a part of the event.

Everyone can attend to the event, safely. The northern part depends a lot on tourism so the safety of the tourists is the top priority of the authorities there. And there's no discontent against any foreigners in particular. My aim with this event is to increase social interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots so making the event safe and peaceful is my top priority as well.

We encourage everyone to come here, see the situation themselves, and spread awareness so that we can get rid of the walls in Cyprus just like in Berlin.

Regarding visas and entry to Cyprus. Anyone who respects international law and the national laws of the Republic of Cyprus which is the only recognised state on the island should enter Cyprus with respect to these laws. That is why I suggest everyone to enter Cyprus via the Larnaca International Airport. Anyone from anywhere that enters Cyprus legally can cross to the northern part without any requirements, except nationals of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Armenia. Citizens of the European Union and Schengen Area Countries can enter the northern part with a national identity card.

Cyprus is an EU member state, but they're not in the Schengen Area. So the visa they issue are only for entering Cyprus. It is much easier to get a short-stay visa for Cyprus compared to a visa for the Schengen Area.

Locations

• 15 May: Home for Cooperation, Ledra Palace

• 16-18 May: Villa

• 19 May: Nicosia Airport, CYENS Makerspace, Pyla, Varosha

Villa Footage