Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have signed cooperation protocols in various areas ranging from social housing to urban planning, and from Zero Waste initiatives to land registry cadastre infrastructure. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, stated, “We will implement our Zero Waste Project in Cyprus as well. For TRNC, a self-sustainable, productive, and developing nation, we have provided all kinds of support as brothers and will continue to do so.”
Cooperation and Progress in Various Sectors
During his visit to TRNC, Minister Kurum held a joint meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, Fikri Ataoğlu, Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı, and Minister of Interior Dursun Oğuz. Following the meeting, Minister Kurum emphasized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s continuous efforts to break the isolation faced by the Turkish Cypriot people.
Minister Kurum highlighted the significant efforts made by the Ministry in waste management, land registry and cadastre, geographic information systems, meteorology, and local governance in TRNC. He mentioned conducting inspections at the ongoing construction sites of the TRNC Presidential Complex and the Republic Assembly building by the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ). These spaces are being designed as integrated living areas with the Republic Park, a public garden, and the parliamentary building. Minister Kurum expressed his commitment to completing the construction by the end of the year and providing these facilities for the benefit of the Cypriot people. Additionally, efforts are underway to complete the Public Garden by June 2025. Initiatives for the High Court and library projects have also commenced, with plans to start the tenders in November and construction activities by TOKİ in December.
Sharing Social Housing Experience and Enhancing Infrastructure
Minister Kurum emphasized that TOKİ will share its experience in social housing with TRNC and highlighted other areas of cooperation. He mentioned the digitization of land registry and cadastre processes to enhance the efficiency and ease of property acquisition for the citizens of TRNC. This initiative aims to simplify the lives of the Cypriot people. Furthermore, a cooperation protocol for setting up a geographic information system in Cyprus is being implemented to improve public services and enhance the efficient management of natural resources. This system will enable public institutions to make more accurate and timely decisions, while local governments will be able to provide services more efficiently to the citizens.
Zero Waste and Deposit Refund System Implementation
In the fight against climate change, Minister Murat Kurum assured Turkey’s support to TRNC and mentioned providing technical and financial assistance for the storage and disposal of household waste. Minister Kurum expressed the desire for comprehensive development in every corner and sector of TRNC. He stated, “We will also implement our Zero Waste Project in Cyprus. With our deposit refund machines, we will introduce a system that will recycle almost all waste, contributing to the economy. Throughout these projects, we have provided all kinds of support to TRNC as brothers for its self-sustainability, productivity, and development, and we will continue to do so.”
Signed Protocols and Action Plan
Following the speeches, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and the TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment signed the “Declaration in the Field of Environment and Urbanization,” the “Cooperation Protocol in Geographic Information Systems,” and the “Action Plan in Land Registry and Cadastre.”
Through these cooperation protocols and initiatives, Turkey and TRNC are set to embark on a path of sustainable development, environmental conservation, and enhanced infrastructure, showcasing a strong bond of cooperation and support between the two nations.
