U.S. Ambassador Frank Urbancic joined the United Nations Secretary General's Special Advisor for Cyprus Alexander Downer, Chief Negotiators George Iacovou and Kudret Ozersay and members of the technical committee charged with improving everyday life to inaugurate a new Joint Communications Room (JCR) in the United Nations Buffer Zone near the Agios Dhometios/Metehan crossing point between the island's two communities.

 

The bicommunal technical committee will use the new facility to exchange information on a broad spectrum of issues ranging from traffic law to trafficking in persons. Housed in a former UN Observation Post (Number 54), the JCR will operate around the clock to improve quality of life for all Cypriots and to build each side's confidence in the other. The technical committee is one of seven working on issues related to the peace process. Its success stands as an example of what can be accomplished collaboratively and serves as an example for other areas that challenge peace makers. Funds to refurbish the building for use by the JCR were provided by the USAID-funded UNDP Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT) program. In his brief remarks, Ambassador Urbancic emphasized the U.S.' commitment to supporting peace on the island.