Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on Thursday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new courthouse which is set to be built within the north’s new ‘government’ complex in Ayios Dhometios.
Yilmaz was joined at the ceremony by Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, the north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel, and other dignitaries.
“These projects, which will strengthen the TRNC’s institutional structure, will create a strong administrative centre which brings together the basic organs of the state,” Yilmaz said of the complex in Ayios Dhometios.
He added that judicial proceedings in the north have “for many years been provided with temporary solutions which are no longer sufficient”.
“The new building will provide a more organised, safe, and effective working environment for members of the judiciary. Thanks to the new building, access to justice will be easier and decision-making processes will be accelerated,” he said.
He also touched on the construction of a new library on the complex, with a foundation stone also laid for that purpose.
The library, he said, will have an area of 3,600 square metres and will contain reading rooms, group study areas, and a “rich archive”.
“The institutional reputation of the state is related not only to its human resources, but also to a functioning institutional structure and the qualified infrastructure which supports it. These structures also reflect the state’s vision and view of the public,” he said.
Kurum also spoke at the ceremony, saying the Turkish government is “working tirelessly … and carrying out work in various areas in Cyprus”, adding that the new mosque and garden on the Ayios Dhometios complex will be complete later this year.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar was also present at the ceremony, and said Ayios Dhometios is “shining with these new structures” and that property values in the area are also increasing.
“We are seeing that not only the buildings but also the area is gaining value. A much greater value is being created for the TRNC, beyond the buildings,” he said.
Upon his arrival on the island earlier on Thursday, Yilmaz had held a joint press conference with the north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel at Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
There he said the construction of the new courthouse is “an important step in terms of strengthening the principle of the rule of law and supporting the independence of the judiciary”.
He added that while in Ayios Dhometios he will visit the new official residence for Turkish Cypriot leaders and the new ‘parliament’ building, describing both buildings as “the symbol of the fight the Turkish Cypriots have been fighting for centuries”.
Incumbent Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar had said on Wednesday he will move into his new official residence on May 3, and that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would attend the building’s opening ceremony.
Yilmaz added that while in Cyprus, Erdogan will also visit Turkey’s aerospace and technology festival Teknofest, which is due to be held at Ercan (Tymbou) airport at the start of next month.
In addition, he said, a meeting will be held in the next few weeks “focusing on urbanism” in the north, with Turkey’s Environment Minister Murat Kurum set to be in attendance.
He went on to say that while in Cyprus, he will attend the launch of a “comprehensive renovation project” of northern Nicosia’s Dr Burhan Nalbantoglu hospital and of a project to construct a new full-scale hospital in northern Nicosia, to be known as the “New Nicosia State hospital”.
“We are happy to add one more contribution to the list of contributions that we, Turkey, have made in the field of health. The New Nicosia State hospital will meet an important need,” he said, adding that the new hospital will “provide Turkish Cypriots with access to better quality health services”.
He went on to say that he will also attend a meeting of businesspeople at Turkey’s embassy in northern Nicosia.
Ustel also spoke at the press conference, making reference to the €510 million financial protocol he and Yilmaz had signed last month, and the north’s “five-year development plan” which was launched by Yilmaz during a previous visit to Cyprus in January.
“The brotherhood between the TRNC is strengthening on an unshakeable foundation. Our relations, which proceed with mutual respect, love and cooperation, provide us with great cooperation. Thanks to this, the welfare of our people is increasing and the infrastructure of our country is strengthening,” he said.
He added, “the TRNC is growing with new investments and new projects”, and that “2025 will be a year when major projects are completed”.
“2025 will be a year in which the efforts to develop our country gain momentum!”
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