EE and UNDP are committed to continue peace efforts in Cyprus

The EU partnership – of the United Nations Development Program in Cyprus has been instrumental in promoting dialogue, building trust and reconciliation, says Jakhongir Khaydarov, head of UNDP Cyprus

On the occasion of the completion of more than two decades of this partnership, Mr. Khaydarov reaffirms the commitment of the two entities in cooperation with other stakeholders “in order to further strengthen the peace efforts in Cyprus&#8220 8221?.

A press release states that the EU-UNDP relationship began in October 2001 with the ground-breaking Nicosia Single Master Plan and has since played a vital role in the peace process through infrastructure development, private sector development and cultural heritage conservation.

This partnership, it added, has been instrumental in supporting the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons, as well as the operation of bi-community technical committees dealing with important public issues, from health to the environment, across the island. .

“Over the past two decades, this partnership has been essential in promoting peace and reconciliation in Cyprus, bringing the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities closer together while laying the foundation for sustainable peace and prosperity,” said the Director General of the Directorate General for Structural Reform Support, Mario Nava.

He said that the tangible results of the cooperation between the EU and UNDP have benefited, and will continue to benefit, many generations of Cypriots.

As reported, to highlight the said partnership, various events will be held in the walled city of Nicosia during June.

These events include public discussions, exhibitions and virtual tours of cultural sites. heritage, while many activities for children and young people will be at the center of the events at the Bandabuliya market, which is the oldest covered market in Nicosia and one of the flagship projects of the EU-UNDP partnership, which is part of the Nicosia Single Master Plan.

The importance of this partnership extends beyond Cyprus, as UNDP and the EU have been working together for more than twenty years in over 100 countries around the world. Currently, the partnership in question covers more than 70 countries and includes initiatives in crisis response, governance, environmental sustainability and addressing fragility, with investments of more than one billion euros, it noted.