BRTK Reports Live from Parliament: Current Speeches in Progress
Republican Turkish Party İskele Deputy Fide Kürşat has raised concerns about the current state of affairs in the İskele region in a recent speech in the Assembly of the Republic. Kürşat highlighted the issue of “modern suburbanization” taking place in İskele, which has resulted in chaos and turmoil in the construction sector. He expressed concerns about the allocation of forest and state lands for construction purposes without proper infrastructure development, as well as the influx of foreign investors and businesses in the region.
Kürşat noted that the construction sector and foreign population in İskele are involved in various social and cultural activities, including real estate, vehicle sales, markets, and beauty centers. However, the nature of their work and sources of income remain unclear. Kürşat emphasized the importance of planned construction and highlighted the systematic employment of foreign teams and frequent land transactions in the region. He warned that the excessive concreteification of agricultural lands would have severe consequences in the future and that changes in land ownership could pose problems.
The İskele Deputy criticized the government for the inadequate provision of essential services such as hospitals and schools. He also pointed out that the foreign population has exceeded the local population in the region, leading to a decrease in the purchasing power of the locals. Kürşat highlighted issues such as the lack of sewage systems, pollution in the sea, water shortages, and the irreversible damage caused to the environment.
Kürşat stressed the urgent need for zoning plans to be put in place to address these issues. He also expressed concerns about the skyrocketing house and rental prices in the region and called for measures to be taken to control the population growth.
Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu supported many of the points raised by Kürşat and acknowledged the need for a zoning plan in İskele due to the excessive construction density. He explained that delays in implementing necessary regulations were caused by previous plans being taken to court. Çavuşoğlu assured that efforts were being made to teach Turkish to foreigners living in the country and that limitations on the sale of goods and settlement to foreigners were being considered to reduce population density and pressure on education, health, and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Republican Turkish Party Nicosia Deputy Ürün Solyalı emphasized the importance of receiving answers to written questions from MPs before delivering speeches. Solyalı called for clarification on the UN resolutions regarding the Turkish Cypriot State, including the abolishment of these resolutions, potential changes to the state’s name, and negotiations for recognition. Solyalı criticized the wastage of energy on irrelevant matters and called for redirecting efforts toward the correct direction for the benefit of the country and its people.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu responded to the criticism by stressing that the name of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) cannot be changed under the current constitution. He pointed out that the TRNC is a member of the Organization of Turkish States with its constitutional name and that any potential name changes should be discussed within the constitutional order.
Ertuğruloğlu also addressed the issue of Pile and stated that the road construction work was continuing as planned despite attempts to prevent it. He emphasized that the aim was to ensure the residents of Pile could reach their homes comfortably. Ertuğruloğlu also discussed the role of the special representative and emphasized that UN resolutions are advisory and not binding.
Doğuş Derya, Republican Turkish Party Nicosia Deputy, criticized the government for its lack of dialogue and highlighted issues such as “black money, sold lands, and tax amnesty.” Derya accused the government of prioritizing personal interests over the well-being of the country and its people. Concerns were also expressed about the population increase and the lack of an accurate census.
Overall, the speeches in the Assembly of the Republic reflected the concerns of various MPs about the current state of affairs in İskele and the wider Turkish Cypriot State. The government was urged to address issues such as construction chaos, inadequate infrastructure, foreign investment, and population control to ensure sustainable development and the well-being of both locals and foreigners in the region.
