Many cemeteries in Cyprus are in bad condition. They are neglected and damaged. Some important parts of them are gone. However, a project started last year to fix this. This project is a way to build trust between people. Now, there are some signs of improvement. This makes people feel a little hopeful.
A special committee is working on restoring these places. This committee has members from both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities. They are working on 30 cemeteries. There are 15 Turkish Cypriot sites and 15 Greek Cypriot sites. The UN Secretary-General announced this project last year. It is important for remembering people.
Ali Tuncay, who leads the Turkish Cypriot side of the committee, said the situation is serious. He explained that many cemeteries and tombstones are in bad shape or missing. This shows a lot of damage over many years.
The restoration work includes fixing walls and clearing plants. They are also carefully repairing old tombstones. The goal is to make these places safe and respectful again.
This project helps people from both communities work together. They are fixing a problem that is important to everyone. This is a step towards peace. Restoring cemeteries is about respect for families and history.
A UN envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, visited two cemeteries in September. She saw work being done. She was happy to hear about the progress from both Sotos Ktoris and Ali Tuncay. Sotos Ktoris, from the Greek Cypriot side, was also there. This shows the project is a team effort.