A cooperation protocol was signed on Wednesday between the Mediterranean Municipalities Union and the Cyprus Turkish Municipalities Union (KTBB).
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Kaya Palazzo Hotel in Girne, the President of the Cyprus Turkish Municipalities Union and the Mayor of Güzelyurt Mahmut Özçınar said that efforts aimed at improving cooperation between the municipalities of the two countries were being stepped up through protocols signed between the TRNC and Turkey.
The President of the Mediterranean Municipalities Union and the Mayor of Kepez Hakan Tütüncü for his part drew attention to the close bond that exists between their respective countries, expressing his happiness over the signing of the protocol which he said would serve to further strengthen the relations between local administrations located in the same geography
Also speaking, the TRNC Interior Minister Kutlu Evren noted that the protocol will help further develop economic, social and cultural activities between the municipalities.
The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri also expressed the view that the protocol will serve to strengthen relations between the two countries at the level of local administrations.
Başçeri also said that the Turkish Embassy since 2004 had allocated $105.5m in funds to municipalities in the TRNC for infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Ersan Saner who spoke at the event noted that unlike central governments, local administrations had direct contact with the people adding that the exchange of experience and knowledge between the local administrations was important.
Explaining that one of the four different cooperation protocols signed with Turkey concerned local administrations, the prime mnister expressed his belief that these protocols will serve for the Turkish nation.
President Ersin Tatar who addressed the event via video conference from New York said that such agreements signed at a time when the Cyprus Issue was going through a critical phase strengthened the national cause.
The President stressed that they continued to work towards protecting the interests of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people during their contacts in New York.
He pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot side, with the support of Turkey had tabled the two-state solution model in Geneva, a position from which they will not take a step back.
Tatar added the last five decades had shown that a federal solution was not possible on the island.
Stressing that there were two separate peoples and states in Cyprus, President Ersin Tatar said that Turkey’s guarantee and the existence of Turkish forces on the island were the greatest assurance for the Turkish Cypriots.
“The most rationalist solution is a solution which will be based on two sovereign equal states. We are expressing this reality. Our aim is to reach a fair, permanent and sustainable solution. Accordingly, we continue to call upon the Greek Cypriot side to engage in meaningful dialogue and to end its intransigent stance on the Cyprus Issue,” the President added.
