President Ersin Tatar came together with members of the press in Eskişehir where he made evaluations on the fenced-off city of Maraş and the new presidential complex to be built in the TRNC.

Reminding that Maraş had been closed since 1974, the president said the region completely belonged to Turkish pious foundations.

“We have a body called the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). We want anyone who has property in Maraş to apply to the commission so that their properties can be returned. We are conducting the process right now. Despite the pandemic, more than 230 thousand people visited the resort town so far. This number would have reached over a million if we didn’t have the pandemic. The number of visitors to Maraş will increase and the town will gain more value when the area is revived as a tourism hotspot,” Tatar said.

Responding to a question regarding the presidential complex to be built in the TRNC, he said this was a big project for them.

“We will have a valuable building which was considered by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As a state, it is important for the TRNC to have a proper presidential complex and a parliament building” Tatar added.

Meanwhile, President Ersin Tatar paid a visit to the monument of Pilot Captain Cengiz Topel in Eskişehir who was martyred in Cyprus in 1964.

Placing a wreath at the monument, the president reminded that bloody Christmas events took place shortly after the creation of the 1960 partnership republic.

Referring to the genocide, cruelty and suffering Turkish Cypriots had to endure, President Tatar explained that Turkish Cypriot students arriving from all corners of the world defended Erenköy and took part in the resistance, displaying great courage and heroism.

He said that Turkish jets had rushed to the aid of the defenders as a final measure.

“It was during this offensive that Captain Cengiz Topel ejected from his jet which was hit. However he was tortured and martyred by Greek Cypriots after being captured,” he added.