Numerous restoration projects at Greek and Turkish Cypriot heritage sites are planned for 2025, the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage said on Friday.

Greek Cypriot co-chair of the committee Sotos Ktoris said several projects are underway with others set to begin in the coming days, and that many more are included in the 2025 programme.

Ongoing projects include restoration work at Ayia Paraskevi in Famagusta, the second phase of Apostolos Andreas, Panayia Kanakaria, Panayia Chrysopolitissa in Kyrenia, Panayia Potamitissa in Kazafani, Touzla Mosque in Larnaca, Avdimou Mosque, Ayios Georgios ton Latinon in Famagusta, and Timios Prodromos in Argaki, Morphou. Additionally, work is ongoing at the Terra Mosque in Paphos.

In the coming days, work is expected to start at Ayia Fotini, Ayios Andronikos, Panayia of Lysi, and Tochni Mosque, Ktoris told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

Next year’s plan includes projects such as the mosques in Koilani and Ayios Thomas, Panayia Apsinthiotissa, Ayios Prokopios in Syngrasis, a traditional Cypriot house in Linia, the Diamante Bastion on Famagusta’s Venetian walls, Panayia Makrasyka, Panayia Akentou in Lefka, and Panayia Kriniotissa.

He added that processes are underway for drafting studies for 26 monuments.

Since the committee’s establishment, work has been completed on over 160 monuments.

Ktoris emphasised that the work is proceeding smoothly and that collaboration with Turkish Cypriot colleagues is excellent and productive, rooted in a shared concern for the island’s cultural heritage.

“There are no ‘ours’ or ‘theirs’ monuments in our approach to preserving cultural heritage. All monuments form part of the shared heritage of this land. This is our perspective,” Ktoris said.

Last Sunday, Ktoris said on social media that restoration work has been completed on the churches of Ayia Marina and Ayia Mavra in Rizokarpaso and Ayios Philon in the Agridia area of Karpasia. All three monuments date back to the 12th century.

They were restored by a team of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot conservators, engineers and architects, with funding from EU resources and under the supervision of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).