Mayors are in Brussels to enhance the international visibility of Turkish Cypriot local governments
The Union of Turkish Cypriot Municipalities (KTBB) has launched its Brussels engagements under the theme “Bringing Local Governments Closer Through Regional Development in Cyprus”, aiming to enhance the international visibility of Turkish Cypriot local authorities.
According to a statement from KTBB, a panel was organized as part of the visit, hosted by Ilhan Küçük, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs, with the participation of 13 mayors from Cyprus.
The panel, held to strengthen the international presence of Turkish Cypriot local administrations, was opened with speeches by MEP Ilhan Küçük and KTBB President, also Mayor of Güzelyurt, Mahmut Özçınar.
The two-session panel featured Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC) and Deputy Director of the Europe in the World Programme, as the moderator of the first session. Panelists included Mehmet Harmancı, Mayor of Nicosia Turkish Municipality; Süleyman Uluçay, Mayor of Famagusta; Valeria Morrica, Local Governance Expert at the World Bank; and Peter Agh, European Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
The second session was moderated by Lale Şener, Brussels Representative of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. Panelists included Giulia Bertezzolo, Head of the European Commission’s Cyprus Settlement Support Unit; Hüseyin Amcaoğlu, Mayor of Gönyeli-Alayköy; and Murat Şenkul, Mayor of Kyrenia.
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı, Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, and Ambassador Ayda Soylu, Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Brussels, were also present among the audience.
The other mayors participating in the Brussels visit were as follows:
KTBB Vice President and İskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu,Lapta-Alsancak-Çamlıbel Mayor Fırat Ataser. Lefke Mayor Aziz Kaya, Değirmenlik-Akıncılar Mayor Ali Karavezirler, Dikmen Mayor Yüksel Çelebi, Çatalköy-Esentepe Mayor Ceyhun Kırok, Geçitkale-Serdarlı Mayor Halil Kasım, Mehmetçik-Büyükkonuk Mayor Fatma Çimen Tuğlu.
