A new issue of Construction Magazine published annually by the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association is out. In addition to the works carried out by the Association for one year, the Construction 2017 magazine includes interviews, articles and news about the sector and it also included the important evaluations of the Chairman of CTBCA, CaferGürcafer. Stating that the the biggest problem in the country is being unplanned, warned us that if we do not go straight to a planned life, whether or not there is a solution to Cyprus issue, we will consume and destroy ourselves.

A new issue of Construction 2017 Magazine published annually by the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association is out. Construction 2017 Magazine, which has come to life by April, attracts attention with its rich content. Including the works carried out by the Association for one year and interviews, articles and news about the sector, the Construction 2017 magazine’s General Coordinator is CTBCA Secretary General ErdimOras and its Writing Affairs Coordinator is CTBCA Press and Public Relations Officer FilizSeyis.

In the Construction 2017 magazine prepared by HK Agency, the interview of the Chairman of CTBCA CaferGürcafer is widely included.

Making important statements to the construction 2017 Magazine, Gürcafer said that the biggest problem in the country is being unplanned. The Chairman of the Contractor’s Association warned us that if we do not go straight to a planned life, whether or not there is a solution to Cyprus issue, we will consume and destroy ourselves.

Stating that the planned life will solve many problems in the country, Gürcafer also added, “As Contractors’ Association, it is our priority to move to planned life in this period. We will fight for this.” The questions asked to Chairman Gürcafer and his answers are as follows:

“I no longer have any hopes for the solution of the Cyprus issue”

Question: In the interview, we made while preparing the magazine last year, our hopes were high. And you said, ‘The solution is around the corner”. It has been a year. How do you evaluate the developments in Cyprus now?

GÜRCAFER: I don’t have any hopes for the solution. In 2003, with the Annan Plan, hopes for solutions were positively impacting the investment climate. At that time, there was an incredible explosion of investments. Subsequently, in 2007, international court decisions came up. With the Orams case, the insolubility process came to the fore again. This adversely affected the investment climate. There was a very steep descent. We entered a period of recession. After that, there was an activation and this affected the construction sector. In the coming phase, both domestic and foreign buyers differed in their view of buying housing from North Cyprus.

“Although the hopes for a solution have collapsed, it will not affect us economically”

Question: What do you think is the reason for this?

GÜRCAFER: I attribute this to the fact that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights have not been so effective, that countries are gradually moving away from globalization and that Turkey-EU relations are negatively affected. These issues about whether there is going to be a solution in Cyprus, no longer affect the consumers or the buyers in a negative way. In other words, the conditions of insolubility do not affect the buyer anymore. Remember, the Orams case had a huge impact. However, after the Orams case, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the existing user created the perception that the formation of the Commodity Compensation Commission or decisions like Orams have no effect especially on consumers abroad. This is also a factor. Another factor is now that the leaders in Cyprus are beginning to give their signals that they can move away from a federal solution. This, of course, leads to the formation of different perceptions. This is what I am trying to say. If we lose our hopes of solution or the negotiations are ceased, we get the signals that we will not have the same negative effect on North Cyprus economy, unlike the effect of the negative answer given to the Annan Plan in 2003 by one of the parties. There is a negligence.

“The search for solutions will not have a negative impact on the construction sector”

Question: How does this affect the market?

GÜRCAFER:  There is a reduction in demand for the North Cyprus housing market from the European market, but there is an increase in demand for North Cyprus from China, Russia and Arab countries, for example. The belief in finding a solution to the property issue in Cyprus, would not be realized by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, but by finding a comprehensive solution, has greatly increased worldwide. This, of course, has a serious effect on the increase or decrease in interest. Therefore, in the construction sector, we think that the increase in demand will continue in both cases, even if the negotiations continue or not.

“The confidence in the deeds has increased”

Question: Why?

GÜRCAFER: There are a lot of reasons for this. Similar political problems have begun to multiply in the world. The sanctions power of the world and especially of the United Nations also began to be less effective. As it used to be, economic and political sanctions cannot be applied effectively. So now the situation in Cyprus is being looked at differently. The confidence in the deeds has increased. We no longer have a concern like ‘these were Greek properties’, as it used to be. This will continue to positively affect our construction sector. In the coming phase, the greatest danger for the construction sector and the country is that we are responding to this demand in an unplanned, unscheduled and uncontrolled manner. Because this planlessness will lead to the loss of the attractiveness or value of our country. People who come to our country to buy housing are not just for our high-quality concrete, aluminum or wood materials. People prefer our country for its natural beauty, climate, human-demographic structure and culture. If we are doing these things unplanned, our values are decreasing day by day. For this reason, we have to start a planned life immediately. And I think today we should first prepare development plans on the basis of national physical plans and prepare our parallel socio-economic development plans immediately.  In addition to these, we must lay our agricultural, university, tourism and construction sectors on a planned basis. We have to start a planned life immediately by setting some certain targets. We do not have any more time to lose.

“Our priority should be to move on to a planned life”

Question: So, what should we do? What should be our priority?

GÜRCAFER:  Our priority should be to move on to a planned life. If we do not do this, whether or not there is a solution to Cyprus issue, we will consume and destroy ourselves. Although the university sector has positively triggered the construction sector, we believe that the uncontrolled growth of this sector in the long run will damage the country’s economy. This situation is observed by a large part of the society. The university sector in our country is an important commercial sector. The sensitivities of education have been gone. This reduces the quality of education. Kyrenia, for example, is growing in an uncontrolled manner, and permits are given in Kyrenia to allow new universities to be opened all the time. We ruined Kyrenia. In parallel with the increase in the number of students, the demand for housing is constantly increasing. No Development Plan. There are lots of buildings. By the way, when we look at Kyrenia from above, we can clearly see that we have lost this place. It’s so interesting that, we used to jokingly say ‘one day Kyrenia people will migrate from Kyrenia’ and now today, that day comes and Kyrenia people start migrating from Kyrenia. The original people of Kyrenia started to escape from the inner areas of Kyrenia. The planning I’m talking about actually involves all of this. How long will we continue to do housing or how much we will not? How long will the demand from abroad continue? There are Turkish Cypriots living abroad, are we going to make housing for these people and are we going to apply policies that will enable them to return to their countries? All of these are among the issues we need to discuss within our socioeconomic development plans. But unfortunately, we are not doing this. A large part of our problems we are experiencing today stem from unplanned life. There are a lot of socio-economic problems that are caused by the lack of supremacy of law or the incomplete development plans, lumbering bureaucracy or the fact that foreign investors can arbitrarily make any kinds of investments and social problems caused by these or lack of control in universities or in the construction industry. We ignore them, but there is the unplanned life on the basis of all of them. Planned life will eliminate most of these problems. As Contractors’ Association, it is our priority to move to planned life in this period.

“A reformist political understanding is needed for the country”

Question: Could you provide this on your own?

GÜRCAFER: It is not possible, we cannot provide this.  We have to run together with politics.  We have to work together with executive and legislative.  But unfortunately, we do not see such a sensitivity and priority approach in politics. From past to present of all time powers saying that issue is very important, unfortunately none of them has ever done this. They did not block unplanned life, they could not.

Question: How do you evaluate the course of the country economically?

GÜRCAFER: We always said the same things from past to the present.  This country needs the intervention of a reformist mind. We need reforms. All incoming powers are becoming part of all the problems in the country, and unfortunately we can not go beyond fighting the daily problems that this irregular order created.  Thirty years ago, when you went to the door of the Ministry of the Interior, there were fifty people waiting at the door, today there are one hundred and fifty people. What does this mean?  That is why citizens come there because they can not solve their problems where they need to be solved. So there is an irregularity and a disorder in the system. Should the Minister sitting there be interested in everyday problems or should he be busy much more with works and projects at a macro level? Of course, he needs to look at bigger things but he deals with everyday issues. Because the system requires this, the system works like this.   Even worse, this disordered, irregular order in our country has become ordinary, and it has begun not to be find strange, started to react normally.  The expectation of society has also begun to take shape in this direction. In the coming phase, a team should come out and initiate a serious reform process. I believe that if we clean the inside of our own home, of course the insolvency will be effective but nevertheless we can create a serious economic and social development. Because the effect of the embargoes is no longer the same. We have overcome many things and can accomplish many things. But the irregularity, the mess and the degeneration within us are consuming us every passing day.   We see it as palliative measures that the interventions we will do, we can do, to fix certain things.  That is, as long as the issues are looked at as a whole and no complete solutions are produced, these things can not be improved.   Without looking as a complete and taking complete steps, things to do will be no longer serve a purpose.  If we return to our subject. In the past there was no demand for dwellings there was other problems, now there is demand, which creates different problems. There is a need for a reformist touch that will plan all this and regulate it once again.  This can only be possible through changes in the political sector. Today, the way our country is ruled is now classicized. We are being governed the same way today, how we were governed thirty years ago. But the world has changed.  For instance, Turkey has changed a lot.  Change must begin within politics. Change must begin with the law of political parties. Must begin with those who will enter politics. Being a parliementarian or minister should not be that easy. This will be possible both by legal regulations and by changing the value judgement of the society.   There is no change in legal regulations alone.   One truth is that, society manages politics. And this is the case in democracies.   Therefore, the more valuable a political sector we create, the better our country is managed. The worse we create it, the worse it is managed.

“As long as you infringe the law, move to the system you want, it will be ineffective”

Question: Is there a need to foresee  a system change?

GÜRCAFER: As long as you violate the law, you will not be affected by the system you want.  But I must say that.   The Greek Cypriot Chief Prosecutor was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on the grounds that he had caused the government to lose a case and provided benefits to them, in a comment they had made in the past days. The mayor of Paphos was imprisoned while the Mayor of Larnaca was suspended from duty by the cause of illegality. Don’t we have illegalities, irregularities? I assert that there are more and more times than in Southern Cyprus. But is anyone in jail? Ever happened? So we have no dominance or superiority of law. It is on paper, but not in practice. First of all, it is necessary to assin the superiority of law in the country.   For this, a serious clean hands operation is needed. It is a political movement that will launch it. Pollution comes to an end with law.   When the law becomes prevalent, this pollution begins to be cleared, and the society takes courage and it continues… First of all, it must be started from this point.  My belief, if it starts here, it continues. Do not we have enough law? There is, but see, for example, is there any procedure related to a mayor that has been made so far? The municipalities are told to failed. But no one hold the responsibility. Extreme employment, partisanship, occasionally other reasons, caused municipalities to be failed.  Is anyone hold the responsibility? How many people were sent to prison? None of them… If someone sent in, jailed, the incomer does his job legally. Problems can be overcome by legitimating the law.  What we need is a system that will work on the basis of proper law. And that is the politics institution that will do it…

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association, together with the outstanding companies of Northern Cyprus, took part in the International Real Estate Fair 2017 held in Kiev, Ukraine between April 1 and April 2.  The Association also held a seminar on “Investment Opportunities in Northern Cyprus” during the Fair.

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association, together with the outstanding companies of Northern Cyprus, took part in the International Real Estate Fair 2017 held in Kiev, Ukraine between April 1 and April 2.

With the aim of seeking new markets and reaching buyers from abroad, the participation of CTBCA in real estate fairs intensified and the breakthroughs realized in 2016 continue without slowing down.

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association have joined together with the leading contractors of Northern Cyprus to the International Fair of Real Estate 2017, held in Kiev, Ukraine, which is the largest property fair in Eastern Europe.

International Real Estate 2017, which welcomes real estate leaders from different countries of the world, offers the opportunity to promote large-scale construction projects and investment opportunities.

Speaking at the seminar titled “Investment Opportunities in Northern Cyprus” held on April 1, the first day of the fair, CTBCA Debuty chairman Meriç Erülkü and Lawyer Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu gave information about the construction sector in the country and the procedure applied while foreigners were acquiring real estate in Northern Cyprus. Participants in the seminar were very interested and asked many questions about what to do in order to buy housing in Northern Cyprus.

In the fair where Turkish constructors were attracted a great attention, the companies that are under the roof of the Turkish Cypriot Construction Contractors Association are as follows: Döveç Construction Limited, Pamfilya Construction Limited, Recaioğlu Limited, North Shores Development Ltd., Erbatu Emlak İnşaat Limited, Tunalı İnşaat Şti. Ltd., Noyanlar Construction Ltd.

A cooperation protocol was signed between the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association and Universal Bank to create affordable financing opportunities and guarantee unproblematic production to Contractors who have undertaken construction works. The projects in the scope of the protocol,  will not have any problems such as the construction being cut off and the buyer not being able to take the title deed.

A cooperation protocol was signed between the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association and Universal Bank to create affordable financing opportunities and guarantee unproblematic production to Contractors who have undertaken construction works. Only the contractors who are the member of the Association have registered in the Protocol and those who receive housing from these contractors will be able to benefit.

The Signing Ceremony of the Cooperation Protocol which was signed between Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association and Universal Bank LTD, was held at the Merit Lefkoşa Hotel on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 15.30.   At the Protocol Signing Ceremony, Cafer Gürcafer, Chairman of CTBCA,  and Universal Bank Ltd. Chairman Şemsi Kazım were in present.

Kazım: “Construction sector is needed to develop the country”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Universal Bank Chairman Şemsi Kazım emphasized the need for the construction sector for the development of the country and stated that they had been paying special attention to the investments that would keep the people in their homeland, especially the young people as the bank, in this context they were excited about the country in signing the protocol with the Contractors’ Association.

Kazım emphasized that Universal Bank, which develops with the confidence of the public and grows in stability, gives priority to the economy in all conditions and that it appreciates the Contractors’ Union for the contribution they make to the country.

Gürcafer: “ The completion of the housing will be guaranteed”

Providing detailed information about the signed protocol, Mr. Cafer Gürcafer, Chairman of the CTBCA, mentioned the negativities experienced in the sector and noted that many problems that have been experienced in the past with this project will be removed.

“Within the scope of this protocol, there will be no problem that no one will buy the title deed of the house bought, and there will not be a problem like being left half finished constructions.     The completion of the construction will be guaranteed” said Gurcafer and informed, the protocol project, which will be realized soon, will be the first concrete step in the life of a pilot project.

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association undertook the responsibility of “Management and Recycling of Excavation, Demolition and Construction Wastes” and held an informative meeting to share the works carried out with experts and authorities with related parties and exchange opinions. The Project, which the representatives of the relevant public institutions and many non-governmental organizations and environmental organizations were interested, was non-profit and it was announced that the income from the project would be spent rehabilitating the nature damage.

The Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association undertook the responsibility of “Management and Recycling of Excavation, Demolition and Construction Wastes” and held an informative meeting to share the works carried out with experts and authorities with related parties and exchange opinions.

GÜRCAFER: ‘’THE POLLUTER CLEANS UP!’’

Chairman Cafer Gürcafer, who made the opening speech at the meeting held on March 9, 2017, between 10.00 – 12.30 hours at CTBCA Central Building, Şevket Abohorlu Conference Hall, emphasized the importance of the management and recycling of construction wastes, they felt a great responsibility with the logic of ‘’the polluter cleans up.’’

Gürcafer, who gives examples from the countries that have achieved success in terms of recycling in the world, told us that in our country, it is necessary to create awareness in this issue and that universities and the state have great duties in terms of raising the public awareness.

‘’QUARRY PROBLEMS SHOULD BE DICIPLINED’’

Gürcafer:

“For years we have had a serious problem with our quarry in our country, everyone is aware of it. The view created by the stone quarries is very disturbing. The recycling of construction waste and the gaining these to economy again are very important both in terms of energy consumption and not consuming our mountains. Imagine that if we can recycle and use 2 million tons of construction waste, this is possible, your aggregate need will be decrease evenly. Decreasing the need for aggregate means that the stones and the mountains are not broken. As part of this project, we want to discipline the problem of the quarries and make sure that nature over time treats itself. “

“INCOME WILL BE USED IN NATURE’S TREATMENT” 

‘’There will be 5 to 6 collection centers, where construction waste will be collected and transported to the center for recycling. Then, certain applications will be made and perhaps they will be reutilized in a compulsory manner.

The income from the use of recycled materials will be used for greening, afforestation and treating the damage we give to nature. In other words, this project is not a profit-making project, it is a project to completely protect the environment and to prevent damage.

Of course, our district governorships and municipalities have a huge role because we can put this project in practice. ”

EU MISSION CHIEF BIANCIARDI: “ALLOCATED FUND FOR WASTE ADMINISTRATION IS REACHED TO 32 AND HALF MILLIONS”.

Speaking after the Chairman of the CTBCACaferGürcafer, EU Mission Chief Alessandro Bianciardi gave information about EU activities related to the solid waste sector in Cyprus.

Informing that the European Union’s basic approach to waste is based on the priorities set for waste management, Bianciardi said it was prevention at waste generation, waste reutilizing, recycling and recovery.

Bianciardi stated that the reuse of all the waste materials is aimed, and that construction waste can be recycled back to the economy by recycling all the waste materials.

Bianciardi gave the knowledge that the EU’s funding for waste management in the context of the support and assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community, the fund has reached 32 and half million euros in the last 10 years.

“GÜNGÖR STORAGE AREA IS FILLING RAPIDLY”

Bianciardi continued as follows:

“In support of the Turkish Cypriot community, we provided support for specialist support and infrastructure investments in the preparation of an integrated waste plan. One of them is Dikmen dumping site and the other is Güngör storage area. We also provide financing support for the development of the current state of Güngör storage area.

We also provide equipment support for the works carried out by municipalities on waste management and recycling.

At this moment, a new grant for the Municipalities is being prepared. In this context, a resource of 4.8 million Euros was allocated. ”

Bianciardi stated that the first cell of Güngör storage area is about to be filled and added “when we consider the filling speed of Güngör storage area, waste management and recycling urgency are seen. At this point, construction and rubble wastes should be recycled as soon as possible. ”

Bianciardi ended his speech by thanking CTBCA for taking the initiative in this regard.

UNDERSECRETARY OF MINISTRY OFTOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT ARKIN: ‘’WE PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES BY RECYCLING’’

The Undersecretary Bülent Arkın, who gave information on the protocol signed between CTBCA and Ministry of Tourism and Environment for the recycling of construction waste, said that the aim is to recover the wastes from the construction.

Arkın said, “The protocol aims to transport all the wastes that we intend to establish in the Ercan Airport area. In recycling, the first thing that comes to mind is that we can protect our natural resources by recycling waste. Arkın, “While the most natural resource sector is the construction sector, the recycling of construction waste is becoming more important.”

We do not live in an environment that is desired in Northern Cypru We were late making some steps. He emphasized the importance of using the criminal factor as well as awareness raising activities for the protection of the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER VEYSİOĞLU: ‘’THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS INSPECTION’’

Environmental Engineer Doğuç Veysioğlu gave information about the “Water / Wastewater and Solid Waste Sector Capacity Development Project Phase 2 Studies” conducted by the EU at the meeting held at CTBCA Şevket Abohorlu Conference Hall and emphasized the importance of solid waste management for our country and our society.

That the CTBCA requested the duties and authorities related to the management of construction waste and that this authorization was obtained with the protocol signed between the Union and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

When they learned that the Contractors’ Union was involved in the design of construction wastes, Veysioğlu said that they had started to set up a working group to further mobilize the project and to actualize the project they started to identify the needs.

Veysioğlu said:

“One of the most important requirements is legislation. That’s why we started a regulation work. We shared the regulation that we drafted with the Ministry of Environment.

In addition, a technical expert was appointed under the leadership of the Contractors’ Association. Our project was also supported by financial analysis and feasibility studies. As a result of all these efforts, a concrete project will emerge.

In order to be able to work on the project we are designing, we have to actualize some basic principles, the most important of which is the supervision.

In addition, the entry of these wastes into the Güngör storage facility must either be banned or taxed in a serious manner.   In the process of allowing construction permission, the opinion of the waste manager must be taken. ”

SOLID WASTE EXPERT WHITMANN: “BUILDING CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, UNDERTAKES THE LEADERSHIP DUTY”

“We are glad to see that the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association has taken the leadership role in terms of construction and rubble waste,” said Andy Whitmann, a solid waste specialist who says there are many types of waste and that a global management plan needs to be developed.

Emphasizing the need to act quickly on waste management, Whitmann said we have the brain power and technology which are needed to move.   Whitmann explains that his goal is to come up with a project that come back to earth, and underlined that this is feasible.

Whitmann stated that the first cell of the Güngör storage facility is about to be filled, added that it is not acceptable to bring usable materials to this facility.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND SOLID WASTE EXPERT PARALİK: ‘’THERE IS NO ATTRIBUTION ON WASTES IN LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Environmental Engineer and Solid Waste Expert Sibel Paralik, who carried out studies on the technical report of the project on behalf of theBuilding Contractors Association, shared technical information about the project at the informing meeting about “Excavation, Demolition and Management and Recycling of Construction Wastes”.

Stating that certain incentives should be created to make the project viable and sustainable and certain legal regulations must be made, Paralik criticized there is neither the Environmental Law nor any specific reference to waste in regulations.

The project which is being carried out by Paralik on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors, is integrated with the EU office, Paralik said that the project prepared the theoretical researches and suggestions on waste quantities, regional distribution of waste, alternatives in management plan, location and transfer centers and technology of recycling facilities.

“GÖNYELİ, MORMENEKŞE, ALSANCAK AND ESENTEPE WELL AHEAD!”

Paralik shares statistical data on regional distribution of construction waste, “Gönyeli in Lefkoşa, Mormeneke in Famagusta and Alsancak and Esentepe in Girne are clearly ahead according to the year 2014 data. There are potential locations for transfer stations or mini-facilities around here, “he said.

Paralik’s words ended by saying that it was an achievement that should be appreciated for the CTBCA to take this initiative as a non-governmental organization and bring its work to this stage.

The Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association (CTBCA) took its place in Expo Real in Germany.   At the Expo Real, Europe’s largest real estate and real estate investment fair, the CTBCA booth attracted a great deal of attention. 

The Expo Real Estate and Real Estate Investment Fair, attended by Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association and some members of the Asseciation, hosts European real estate giants in Munich, Germany every year. The fair, which opened its doors for the 19th time this year, was held on 4-6 October.

The CTBCA booth, which takes place in the fair that gives the opportunity of introducing major construction projects and investment opportunities, attracted the attention of foreign customers and investors.

The experts at the CTBCA booth informed the visitors about the North Cyprus, as well as the construction industry in the country and the applied procedure while foreigners were acquiring real estate in Northern Cyprus.

In the scope of the project “Evim Evim Güzel Evim” ,  The children’s art exhibition, organized in partnership with the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association and ARTTERAPI Art, Therapy and Personal Training Center, opened on Wednesday, September 21, at 18.30.   The Minister of Ministry of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Kyrenia Mayor Nidai Güngördü, Chairman of CTBCA Cafer Gürcafer and Founder of ARTERTERAPI Center Bahar Çıralı hold the opening of the exhibition where the pictures made by 4 to 12 year old children took place.

In the scope of the project “Evim Evim Güzel Evim”,  The children’s art exhibition, organized in partnership with the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association and ARTTERAPI Art, Therapy and Personal Training Center, opened in Kyrenia Public Library on Wednesday, September 21, at 18.30.

In the opening ceremony, thanks to the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Girne Municipality, Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors’ Association who have contributed to the project, and Astra Group, Nurel Group of Companies, Taşkın Construction and Mehmet Eminoğlu İnvestment for the covering the security screen of their construction sites with children’s pictures.

The Minister of The Ministry of Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoglu, Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü, Chairman of CTBCA Cafer Gurcafer and Founder of ARTERTERAPI Center Bahar Çıralı opened the exhibition, children and parents, many contractors and the public from Kyrenia have attended.

ÇIRALI: ‘’THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE SELF CONFIDENCE’’

Bahar Çıralı, founder of the ARTTERAPI Center, who made the opening speech at the exhibition, emphasized that the main purpose of the exhibition is to increase children ‘s self – confidence and to raise sensitive children.

Çıralı said, “We wanted to set an example for children by carrying out this project with the Turkish Cypriot Construction Contractors’ Association. I would like to thank all the companies that supported the project for their sensitivities “.

GÜRCAFER: ‘’IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS’’

In his speech, Mr. Cafer Gürcafer, Chairman of the CTBCA, emphasized the importance of educating children with environmental awareness by drawing attention to environmental pollution which is one of the most important problems of the world.

Gürcafer, who thanked the ARTTERAPI Center for their efforts to increase the sensitivity of children, also celebrated the children who own the paintings.

GÜNGÖRDÜ: ‘’I AM SUPPORTIVE FOR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT’’

Kyrenia Mayor Nidai Güngördü, who spoke after the Chairman of CTBCA CaferGürcafer, explained that increasing the sensitivity towards the environment is a training business and addressed to Girne’s environmental problems Güngördü emphasized that he is supportive and advocation the planned development and that the development plan should be urgently passed.

ATAOĞLU: “ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS WILL BE COMPULSORY”

Lastly, Fikri Ataoglu, Minister of Tourism and Environment, mentioned that the environmental lessons will be included in the curriculum as a compulsory subject in the next academic year. Ataoğlu congratulated the children who had pictures at the exhibition and thanked everyone who contributed to the project.

After the speeches, the opening ceremony of exhibition was held which will be open between 03.00 pm and 06.00 pm until September 30th.

Kıbrıs Türk İnşaat Müteahhitleri Birliği Başkanı Cafer Gürcafer, Türkiye Müteahhitler Birliği ile KKTC’deki inşaat ve restorasyon işlerinin nasıl sürdürüleceğini de ortaya koyan bir protokolü iki tane Bakanın şahitliğinde imzaladıklarını vurgulayarak, ne TC ne de KKTC yetkililerinin bu protokolü dikkate almadığını söyledi. TC ve KKTC yetkililerinin, Birlikler arasında imzalanan protokolü yok sayarak su hatları ile vakıf mallarının restorasyonu işlerinin Türkiye’de ihale edilmesi yönünde protokol imzaladıklarını kaydeden Gürcafer, “O halde ben de sizin yaptığınız ve temsil ettiğim kesim ile toplumun çıkarlarına ters olan anlaşmayı yok sayarım” dedi.

Kıbrıs Türk İnşaat Müteahhitleri Birliği Başkanı Cafer Gürcafer, Sim TV’de Radyo Gazetesi programına konuk olarak çarpıcı açıklamalarda bulundu.

“İMAR PLANLARI İVEDİLİKLE YAPILMALI”

Bir süredir kamuoyunun gündemini meşgul eden Girne İkinci Bölge Emirnamesi Değişikliği ile ilgili konuşan Gürcafer, her emirname konusu gündeme geldiğinde yetkililerin ‘bu sondur’ dediğini ancak asla son olmadığını kaydederek, ülkede 18 tane imar planının ivedilikle yapılması gerektiğini vurguladı.

“AF AMACINI AŞMAMALI”

Muhaceret Affı’na da değinen Gürcafer, bu affı kendilerinin istediğini ancak müteahhitlerinin çıkarlarının yanı sıra toplumsal çıkarları da önemsediklerini ifade ederek, bu affın amacını aşan bir af olmaması gerektiğini ve İhtiyat Sandığı ve Sosyal Sigorta yatırımları ile ilgili teknik bir çalışma yapacaklarını vurguladı.

“TALEP VAR, SATMAK İSTİYORUZ… ANCAK PLANLANMALI”

İnşaat sektöründeki gelişme ve sıkıntılardan bahseden Gürcafer, yurtdışından ciddi bir konut talebi bulunduğunu ancak bu konut talebinin sağlıklı bir şekilde karşılanması için plana ihtiyaç olduğunu söyledi. Talep bu kadar fazla iken hiçbir plan yapılmamasının kendisini endişelendirdiğini kaydeden Gürcafer, “Örneğin önümüzdeki 10 senede hangi bölgelerde kaç konut satmayı hedefliyoruz, hangi kesimi hedefliyoruz? Bunlarla ilgili hiçbir çalışma yok. Talep var, biz de satmak istiyoruz. Ancak bu yapılırken, toplumsal çıkarlarımızla örtüşerek yapılması için planlanarak yapılmalıdır” ifadelerini kullandı.

“BU BİZİM EKMEK PARAMIZ, NE GEREKİRSE YAPACAĞIZ”

Vakıf Kültür Varlıkları ile Türkiye’den gelen su hatları işlerinin Ankara’da ihale edilmesi için TC Hükümeti ile KKTC Hükümeti arasında imzalanan İşbirliği Protokolü’nü tanımadığını vurgulayan Gürcafer, Kıbrıs Türk İnşaat Müteahhitleri Birliği ile Türkiye Müteahhitler Birliği arasında KKTC’deki inşaat ve restorasyon işlerinin nasıl sürdürüleceğini de ortaya koyan bir protokol imzaladıklarını ancak TC ve KKTC yetkililerinin bu protokolü dikkate almadığını söyledi. İhalelerin Ankara’da açılması ile ilgili “Bu bizim ekmek paramızdır. Önce yetkililerle ve diğer ilgili örgütlerle görüşeceğiz, sonra da ne gerekirse yapacağız diyen Gürcafer sözlerini şöyle sürdürdü:

“İKİ BAKAN ŞAHİTLİĞİNDE PROTOKOL İMZALADIK, DEVLET DİKKATE ALMADI”

“Türkiye Müteahhitler Birliği ile bir de protokol imzaladık. Bu protokolü imzalarken de birçok şeyi tartıştık. Gelecekte Kıbrıs’ta çözüm olması ile birlikte ortaya çıkacak olan fırsatın birlikte değerlendirilebilmesini tartıştık. Aynı zamanda çözümsüzlük devam ettiği sürece inşaat sektörünün Kıbrıs Türk toplumunun varlığına nasıl katkı koyduğunu tartıştık. Bu tartışmalar neticesinde ortaya bir protokol çıkardık, imzaladık. İmzalanan protokole dönemin Maliye Bakanı Birikim Özgür ve dönemin İçişleri Bakanı Asım Akansoy da şahit olarak imza koydu. İki bakanın şahitliğinde imzalanan protokolü götürüp devletimize de verdik ama kimse bunu dikkate almadı.”

“İHALELERİN ANKARA’DA AÇILMASI İÇİN İMZALANAN ANLAŞMAYI TANIMAYACAĞIM”

“Bu protokolü ne TC ne de KKTC yetkilileri dikkate almıyor ki, bugün su hatları ile ilgili projenin ve vakıf mallarının restorasyonu işlerinin Türkiye’de ihale edilmesi yönünde adımlar atıyorlar. Demek ki bizim yapmış olduğumuz çalışmalar hiçbir anlam ifade etmiyor. O halde ben de ihalelerin Ankara’da açılması için imzalanan anlaşmayı tanımayacağım. Siz iki tane sivil toplum örgütünün imzaladığı anlaşmayı yok sayarsanız, benim de sizin yaptığınız, hem temsil ettiğim kesimin hem de toplumun çıkarlarına ters olan anlaşmayı yok saymaktan başka şansım kalmaz.”