The €2 million contribution will support the work of the bi-communal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. “The successful measures already taken to preserve the island’s rich cultural heritage clearly show what both communities can achieve when they work together. It is very important that both sides continue the work to protect their common cultural heritage and also, through this, pave the way for reconciliation and the reunification of Cyprus,” said Commissioner Stefan Füle.

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou also welcomed the announcement. “Cyprus is an island with an incomparable wealth of cultural heritage, but many sites have unfortunately been allowed to fall into a poor state and need immediate action,” she said.

The EU support will finance priorities identified by the committee, including conservation and emergency support works on five sites, activities in ten small projects, and raising awareness in Cyprus about the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. The works will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme’s Partnership for the Future, in collaboration with the advisory board of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. Overall, the amount of EU funding channelled towards the preservation of Cyprus cultural heritage amounts to €4 million to date.

In 2012 and 2013, thanks to EU funding, emergency preservation and/or conservation measures have been carried out or will be carried out with regard to Othello Tower in Famagusta and three Greek Orthodox churches in the northern part of Cyprus; and two Islamic heritage sites (one mosque and one hammam) in the government controlled areas.

Under the new project, the new sites will be selected from a list which comprises: the Venetian walls between the arsenal and Othello tower in Famagusta in the northern part of Cyprus, the exhibition room of the Kyrenia wreck at the Kyrenia Castle in the northern part of Cyprus, the Agios Panteleimonas Greek Orthodox monastery in the northern part of Cyprus, one millhouse/aqueduct in the government controlled areas and the Maronite Saint George church located in the northern part of Cyprus.

Source: Cyprus Mail