Our mission is to support cooperation between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot individuals and organizations to reduce tensions and promote a climate that will foster reconciliation and a durable peace settlement. USAID assistance to Cyprus began as a humanitarian relief operation in the summer of 1974 and has since evolved into a multi-sector development program aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of interaction between the estranged and geographically-separated Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and reducing the significant economic disparity between the communities to reinforce the practical, economic foundation for reunification under a future bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. USAID assistance supports cooperation between individuals and organizations from the two sides in order to reduce tensions and promote a climate that will foster reconciliation and a durable peace settlement. USAID/Cyprus is staffed by six Americans and Cypriots.