OSASG-Cyprus Technical Committees

Key achievements:

• Addressed ad-hoc frequency interference and reached an agreement on the distribution of radio frequencies.
• Facilitated agreement on the transition to 5G on the island.
  

Activities: The Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters (TCCCM) was established in April 2008 by the Leaders of the two communities in Cyprus in order to work towards trust-building measures, thus facilitating the peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations.The TCCCM leaders and their team members meet together on a regular basis. The main overall purpose of the TCCCM is to develop effective and efficient working relationships between local law enforcement agencies, namely the Republic of Cyprus Police (CYPOL) and the Turkish Cypriot Police (TCP). The day to day working agency of the TCCCM is The Joint Communications Room (JCR), which was established in May 2009. The four member JCR team, consisting of two members from each side, operates on daily basis from dedicated premises in the buffer zone, near Ayios Dhometios crossing point in Nicosia. The JCR provides a forum where the direct exchange of information and intelligence between two Police forces takes place.

Key achievements: Opened an extension of the Joint Contact Room (JCR) in Pyla/Pile to exchange information and address criminality.

Activities: The Technical Committee on crisis management was established in 2008 by the leaders of the two communities in order to share information and discuss issues related to responses to man-made or natural disasters.

Key achievements:

• Facilitated meetings between relevant experts from both sides on wildfires, seismic activity, earthquake preparedness.
• Developed a coordination mechanism for disaster risk management.

Activities: The Technical Committee on Crossings was established to consider the opening of crossing points as a confidence building measure between the communities.

Key achievements: Agreement to improve the efficiency of the busiest crossing point in Nicosia representing 80% of the traffic between the two sides. Designs are currently being developed.

Activities: The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage is dedicated to the recognition, promotion and protection of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the island. The Technical Committee believes that the protection of cultural heritage stimulates sustainable development as well as mutual understanding.

Key achievements:

• Conserved/restored 56 religious and cultural heritage sites across the island.
• Conservation designs for future projects are ready for an additional 40 sites.

Activities: To promote cultural events that could bring the two communities closer together.

Key achievements:

• Organized a bicommunal drawing and video competition.
• Organized a bicommunal "Connecting Arts" event with 60+ artists.

Activities: The Technical Committee on economic and commercial matters was established in 2008 by the leaders of the two communities in order to discuss measures and initiatives to promote and facilitate economic contacts and trade between the two sides. The Committee was instrumental in the implementation of several confidence building measures agreed by the two leaders in 2015, including the interconnectivity of the electricity grids and the interoperability of mobile phones.

Key achievements:

• Finalized a pre-feasibility study on the management of electric and electrical waste.
• Helped facilitate an increased in intra-island trade, including GLR trade.

Activities: To review existing research and good practices in education in Cyprus and abroad and undertake new relevant research on how education can contribute to conflict transformation, peace, reconciliation and countering of prejudice, discrimination, racism, xenophobia and extremism. Work on devising a mutually acceptable mechanism for the implementation of confidence building measures in schools of the two educational systems and promote -Your data has been truncated.

Key achievements:

• Since 2017, over 6,100 students, accompanied by 700 teachers, have received peace education.
• Another 500 teachers have been trained in providing peace education.

Activities: The Environment Technical Committee meets monthly to discuss and share ideas regarding environmental issues across the island. The members have visited key locations together and have plans to engage expertise in broader discussions on various important topics.

Key achievements:

• Launched the website (tcecyprus.org) to promote cooperation on environmental issues.
• Raised awareness around the need to preserve biodiversity and sustainable practices.

Activities: The leaders announced their agreement to establish a Committee on Gender Equality at their joint meeting held on 28 May 2015. On that occasion, the leaders expressly agreed that the Cyprus issue could only be properly solved with due understanding of the perspectives of both women and men and that, to that effect, they had agreed to establish a committee on gender equality. Following the decision of the leaders, both sides appointed members of the Committee, which comprises both men and women. The leaders also agreed to a specific mandate for the committee which makes clear reference to Security Council Resolution 1325. The establishment of the Committee on gender equality is a testimony to increasing awareness in the context of the Cyprus peace process of the importance of ensuring a greater gender perspective in the talks.

Key achievements:

• Developed the "Action Plan on ways to ensure women's full, equal & meaningful participation in the settlement process/an eventual settlement process."
• Developing a standing consultative platform for regular civil society engagement, including women and youth.

Activities: The Technical Committee on Health was established in 2008 by the leaders of the two communities in order to share information on their respective health systems and help resolve health related issues that could affect both communities. The Committee established sub-committees that deal with specific issues such as infectious and genetic diseases.

Key achievements:

• Exchanged epidemiological information and facilitated the transfer of medical supplies (COVID-19/post-earthquake).
• Conducted a vector-borne (mosquitos) disease risk project.

Activities: The Technical Committee on Humanitarian Issues was established in 2008 by the leaders of the two communities in order to help resolve a day-to-day issue that would require assistance from the other community on the basis of humanitarian aspect of it. The Committee meets regularly and has been helping build confidence between the two communities.

Key achievements: Organized the event 'Angels of Peace: social inclusion, leaving no one behind' with 40 children/youth with special needs & more than 20 CSO representatives.