Feelings of optimism and hope for the future replace sentiments of sadness and despair at the sight of restoration work, currently underway, at the Turkish occupied Monastery of Apostolos Andreas, in Karapass peninsula. This most important symbol of Christianity for centuries for the Cypriot people is set to regain its former glory and provide spiritual solace to the faithful once again, as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot experts work together to make the necessary repairs and prevent the collapse of the building. Journalists from the southern government controlled areas of the Republic and the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus joined a monitoring visit of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and UNDP to the monastery on Tuesday, as part of a routine monitoring program, carried out by the committee to on-going cultural heritage project sites.