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UNDP-PFF AND EU COMPLETE THE UPGRADE PROJECT IN KALAVAC VILLAGE

The UNDP Partnership for the Future Programme has completed its works on the urban and local infrastructure upgrading of the Turkish Cypriot village of Kalavac.

Kalavac is the first completed pilot project implemented by UNDP-PFF and the EU.

The project covered a wide range of fields such as restoration of old buildings, water pipeline construction and the revitalization of the original village square without destroying the authenticity of the village.
The EU-funded project which was carried out by the UNDP cost nearly 170,000 Euros in total.

The completion of the project which was funded under the EU Aid Programme for Turkish Cypriots was celebrated with a special ceremony in the village today.

Among those attending the ceremony were the acting President and Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu, some MPs, the German Ambassador to Lefkosa Gottfried Zeitz as well as UN and EU officials.

In his thanks to the UNDP-PFF and the EU, the Kalavac mukhtar Omer Merakli said not only did the daily lives of villagers improve, but also the profile of the village was made more attractive.

He said he was very much proud with the Kalavac people for cherishing their village’s century-old culture, tradition and history.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Programme Manager of the UNDP-PFF Tiziano Zennaro said she was very much pleased with the completion of this project.

She added that particular focus was made on the protection of traditional architecture of the village while carrying out the project.
The coordinator of the EU Commission’s aid programme Alessandra Viezzer expressed the belief that this project will constitute a good example to other villages, calling it an encouraging project that improved the quality of life in rural areas.

She noted that a package worth of 10 million Euros has already been saved which is to be used for further projects on rural development in North Cyprus.

Laterly speaking, the Head of the EU Coordination Office Erhan Ercin informed that bids for holding similar projects in the villages of Erdemli, Akincilar, Kaleburnu, Hisarkoy and the towns of Lapta and Lefke will soon be completed.

Mrs Ekenoglu for her part said it is among the biggest duties of a citizen to protect the cultural heritage, adding this will very much contribute to the development of the tourism sector.

She stated that Kalavac has made the first move on this.
Also touching upon the Israeli onslaught in Gaza, Ekenoglu said Turkish Cypriots know how painful the war is and that is why they determinedly maintain their struggle for peace in Cyprus.

`I am strongly condemning those who caused this cruelty` she added.
Following the speeches, a symbolic opening was held for the Kalavac village, which was then followed by the performance of folk-dancing shows of the Degirmenlik Municipality and the serving of traditional Turkish Cypriot foods and drinks.