Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkey’s ruling AK Party is set to open a representative office in Nicosia’s old town, with the party’s logo already placed on the front of a sandstone building. The new office will replace the party’s current headquarters in the suburb of Neapolis.
New office location
The building is located immediately north of the Selimiye mosque, next to the Novo Pangea cafe, and opposite the headquarters of the Cyprus Turkish municipalities’ union and the Yunus Emre institute.
Rental agreement
The property is owned by the Bullici family, which is charging the AK Party £1,800 (€2,082) per month in rent for the building.
Asked by newspaper Yeniduzen about renting the building to the AK Party, the Bullici family said, “whether Christian or Jewish, he who pays the piper calls the tune, dooby dooby doo”.
Party response
AK Party Cyprus representative Emre Kaya told the newspaper that the property is “a recently restored building which preserves its historical character”, adding that “the building’s location, historical identity, and physical conditions were influential in this choice”.
Kaya also denied reports that Turkey’s embassy in Nicosia had played a role in securing the building for the party.
“Our embassy had no connection or involvement with the matter,” he said. “We saw the building, found it suitable, and completed the rental process.”
Planning permission question
Asked about the fact that the planning permission granted for the building envisaged its use as a guesthouse, Kaya said, “I think the owner is the one who should answer this question”.