President Ersin Tatar participates in the ceremony marking the second anniversary of the opening of Maraş
“We opened Maraş to bring it back to the service of humanity”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar has participated in the ceremony marking the second anniversary of the opening of the part of fenced Maraş (Varosha) where he said that the town has been opened to turn it into a place that will serve humanity. The President made a speech to the press during a commemoration event that was held at Maraş, which is located on the suburbs of Gazimağusa, at the entrance of the Security Forces Command Maraş Gate. President Tatar stated that Maraş, which had been closed for decades, is being gradually opened in order to make it available for the service of humanity where people can live in peace.Stating that Maraş contributes greatly to the TRNC economy due to its tourism potential and is important for Gazimağusa, President Tatar said that the opening of the city is “a life line” to region.
Emphasising the internationally renowned importance and attributes of the city, President Tatar stressed that the land inside Maraş is the property of the Turkish Foundations (Evkaf) which were distributed over a period of time and explained that the TRNC is working in a manner which takes into consideration universal human rights laws that allows former inhabitants to apply for an effective domestic legal remedy at the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).
“Maraş is inside the territory of the TRNC”
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side is putting forward a new policy with regards to a settlement in Cyprus that is based on the existence of two sovereign equal States and equal international status, which is fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye.
“The TRNC is a sovereign equal State in the region and is continuing to develop and strengthen, together with the assistance and support of the Republic of Türkiye,” the President stated. "The historic step of opening the fenced-part section of Maraş was carried out with the support of Republic of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," he added.
“We are continuing to develop the TRNC together with the Republic of Türkiye to ensure the Turkish Cypriot People live in peace and prosperity”
President Tatar stated that the opening of Maraş was also widely reported in international press, and that the beautiful sandy beaches of Maraş and the ancient landmarks and monuments of nearby Gazimağusa has increased the tourism potential of the whole region. Stating that 750,000 people visited Maraş in two years despite the pandemic, President Tatar expressed his belief that this number will increase even more in the coming period.
“Some public buildings could be made available to the public”
Stating that the next step in Maraş could be that some public buildings are opened to serve the public, President Tatar said: “Necessary work can be carried out in the area so that these buildings are opened for civilian use. . .our wish is for Maraş to be opened in its entirety over a period of time”.
In addition to President Ersin Tatar, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Mayor of Gazimağusa İsmail Arter, deputies, other officials and citizens attended the ceremony.
Background to the opening of Maraş
Maraş has been closed to civilians since 1974 and has been the subject of negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Side. Despite arduous attempts by the Turkish Cypriot Side to reach a settlement in Cyprus in different negotiation processes and the inclusion of Maraş in different confidence building measure packages, the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected these.
The Democracy Street and the beach area of Maraş was opened to the public on October 8, 2020.
Furthermore, on July 20, 2021, a second phase was started with the demilitarisation of a pilot area in Maraş that corresponds to 3.5 per cent of Maraş, following the decision of the Council of Ministers dated July 12, 2021 – which removed that area from being a military zone and bringing it under the scope of the IPC. Former inhabitants can seek an effective domestic legal remedy at the European Court of Human Rights sanctioned IPC.
On the same day, Bilalağa Masjid and Maraş National Garden were also opened to visitors and two beaches were opened for public.
The ‘historical opening’ of Maraş was widely reported in international press.
Approximately 750,000 people have visited the region over a period of two years.
Emphasising the internationally renowned importance and attributes of the city, President Tatar stressed that the land inside Maraş is the property of the Turkish Foundations (Evkaf) which were distributed over a period of time and explained that the TRNC is working in a manner which takes into consideration universal human rights laws that allows former inhabitants to apply for an effective domestic legal remedy at the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).
“Maraş is inside the territory of the TRNC”
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side is putting forward a new policy with regards to a settlement in Cyprus that is based on the existence of two sovereign equal States and equal international status, which is fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye.
“The TRNC is a sovereign equal State in the region and is continuing to develop and strengthen, together with the assistance and support of the Republic of Türkiye,” the President stated. "The historic step of opening the fenced-part section of Maraş was carried out with the support of Republic of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," he added.
“We are continuing to develop the TRNC together with the Republic of Türkiye to ensure the Turkish Cypriot People live in peace and prosperity”
President Tatar stated that the opening of Maraş was also widely reported in international press, and that the beautiful sandy beaches of Maraş and the ancient landmarks and monuments of nearby Gazimağusa has increased the tourism potential of the whole region. Stating that 750,000 people visited Maraş in two years despite the pandemic, President Tatar expressed his belief that this number will increase even more in the coming period.
“Some public buildings could be made available to the public”
Stating that the next step in Maraş could be that some public buildings are opened to serve the public, President Tatar said: “Necessary work can be carried out in the area so that these buildings are opened for civilian use. . .our wish is for Maraş to be opened in its entirety over a period of time”.
In addition to President Ersin Tatar, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Mayor of Gazimağusa İsmail Arter, deputies, other officials and citizens attended the ceremony.
Background to the opening of Maraş
Maraş has been closed to civilians since 1974 and has been the subject of negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Side. Despite arduous attempts by the Turkish Cypriot Side to reach a settlement in Cyprus in different negotiation processes and the inclusion of Maraş in different confidence building measure packages, the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected these.
The Democracy Street and the beach area of Maraş was opened to the public on October 8, 2020.
Furthermore, on July 20, 2021, a second phase was started with the demilitarisation of a pilot area in Maraş that corresponds to 3.5 per cent of Maraş, following the decision of the Council of Ministers dated July 12, 2021 – which removed that area from being a military zone and bringing it under the scope of the IPC. Former inhabitants can seek an effective domestic legal remedy at the European Court of Human Rights sanctioned IPC.
On the same day, Bilalağa Masjid and Maraş National Garden were also opened to visitors and two beaches were opened for public.
The ‘historical opening’ of Maraş was widely reported in international press.
Approximately 750,000 people have visited the region over a period of two years.