On December 9, Charge d’Affaires Jane Zimmerman and USAID Representative Thomas Dailey helped to celebrate the completion of a restoration project at the Hala Sultan Mosque complex in Larnaca, Cyprus. The project was funded by USAID through a grant to the UN Development Program. In addition to being of historical, religious and cultural significance to Turkish Cypriots, most of whom currently live north of Cyprus’ dividing Green Line, Hala Sultan Mosque is considered one of Islam’s holiest sites, believed to contain the tomb of one of the Prophet’s closest aunts, Umm Haram. A “virtual tour” of the site has been developed and will soon be linked to Embassy Nicosia’s website. The restoration effort brought together the island’s physically separated Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on a project of common interest. At the same time, it preserved a site of historical, religious and cultural significance for future generation. The event received wide media coverage by local press as well as Reuters, CNN and BBC.