Nicosia Mayors Draft Joint Plan to Protect Historic Buildings in Buffer Zone

Nicosia, Cyprus. Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mehmet Harmanci said on Tuesday that they have prepared joint proposals to safeguard crumbling historic buildings in the buffer zone. Prountzos will bring the proposals to the attention of UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin on November 9.

Common positions, no details

Prountzos told Politis radio that the two mayors have settled on shared positions on the matter. He did not disclose what measures the proposals contain.

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Decades of neglect

Numerous buildings within the buffer zone have fallen into serious disrepair after being abandoned and left untended for decades. Prountzos noted that the partition of Nicosia began ten years before the 1974 Turkish invasion, since the first version of the Green Line divided the capital in 1963.

European Union and Greek Cypriot side

According to Prountzos, the subject has figured strongly in talks with the European Union, especially the protection of structures that belong to the cultural and architectural heritage of the city. He said the proposals have already been discussed with President Nikos Christodoulides and with Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaous Menelaou. Prountzos added that he did not wish to speak on behalf of the government, but he believed the Greek Cypriot side was receptive.

Harmanci and the Holguin meeting

Harmanci will not take part in the meeting with Holguin. Prountzos said, however, that the Turkish Cypriot mayor remains ready to join any later meeting on Nicosia that could contribute to a positive outcome.