“The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage believes that it is the primary responsibility of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to protect the endangered cultural heritage of the island, and that it is important for these monuments to be preserved, not only because they are important symbols for both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, as well as for humanity, but also because they have an intrinsic value of their own.”

Press statement of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, 06 May 2009

The cultural heritage of the island of Cyprus emanates from diverse and rich cultures and civilizations which have populated the island throughout history. It constitutes the shared heritage of all the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots.

The Agreement of 21 March 2008 reached between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), paved the way for the establishment of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH). TCCH works to provide a mutually acceptable mechanism for the implementation of practical measures for the proper preservation, physical protection and restoration (including research, study and survey) of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Cyprus. It further uses the unprecedented opportunities provided by new technologies to create digital documentation of the monuments.

The protection of cultural heritage can be a powerful tool towards increasing dialogue and social engagement, as well as building confidence and a culture of peace on the island. It constitutes an integral part of the ongoing process of broadening areas of cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, which can most effectively be achieved through joint efforts. The protection of cultural heritage also stimulates sustainable development and mutual understanding.

The Technical Committees’s Operational Framework

A shared vision for cultural heritage in Cyprus

As the cornerstone of its activities, the Technical Committee has developed and is actively promoting a common vision of the importance of cultural heritage for Cyprus. The Committee regards all cultural heritage as our common richness without making any distinction.

The capacity of the Committee to define, agree and implement action priorities and a strategy for the future has been strongly supported by the European Commission (EC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2010. The European Commission has provided the majority of the financial support, while the UNDP has provided the programmatic, logistical and operational framework for the implementation of the Committee’s priorities.

The Committee is supported in its work by an Advisory Board composed of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot archaeologists, architects, art historians and town planners from both communities. Joint monitoring visits and regular meetings between TCCH, its Advisory Board and UNDP encourage and ensure the direct involvement in each stage of the project cycle. The direct involvement of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot technical teams (architects, archaeologists, engineers etc.) act, in time, as team- and confidence-building measures, allowing for an increased exchange of experiences and the setting of a positive example of successful collaboration between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.