Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance*
Fiscal Year (FY) 2007: $18.07 Million (M) ($18.07M Other)
Estimate FY 2008: $10.91M ($10.91M Other)**

Assistance Goals: United States assistance to Cyprus focuses on creating conditions conducive to resolving the Cyprus dispute and supporting reunification of the island. The U.S. Government (USG) promotes mutual understanding between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, addresses economic disparities between the two communities and supports initiatives that encourage a comprehensive settlement.

Areas of Focus (Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance):

Peace and Security (PS): FY 2007: $18.07M, Est. FY 2008: $10.91M

• Address the factors impeding a political settlement, encourage the growth of pro-solution political will, and build the capacity of civil society across the island to advocate for reconciliation and reunification;
• Provide opportunities for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to work together to tackle common problems and address common concerns;
• Provide opportunities for individuals and civil society groups to network in areas of common interest, such as the prevention of trafficking in persons, tolerance activities, and management of natural resources;
• Increase the parity of economic opportunity in the two communities by improving both the competitiveness of Turkish Cypriots at the firm and sector levels and the climate for economic growth in the Turkish Cypriot community;
• Deepen trade contacts between the two communities and create new opportunities for beneficial interaction as well as an improved climate in which the two sides can forge a comprehensive settlement, which is the ultimate goal of all USG assistance programs.

Recent Successes:

• Supported beneficial bi-communal activities on levels of trust, communication, and dialogue in Cyprus. There is a consensus among both Cypriot communities that bi-communal programs help create the necessary bonds for reaching a solution.
• Regularized contact between the chambers of commerce and industry on both sides resulted in a more effective means to address trade issues and other business-related problems that hamper trade contacts over the dividing Green Line.
• USG assistance helped with the training of over 1,600 teachers in conflict resolution and peace education, the formation of an education platform to promote reconciliation, social justice pedagogies, and the formation of a civil society platform to promote dialogue between the two communities.
• Increased awareness of market realities facing Turkish Cypriot firms focused on export and trade as well as introduced an alternative cropping strategy for a significant percentage of growers.

*Division J of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act: Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008, including: SEED, Child Survival and Health (CSH), Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, De-mining and Related programs (NADR), International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

**Estimate from FY 2009 Congressional Budget Justification; Website: //2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/101440.pdf.