The European Union Coordination Centre’s conference hall was named after staff-member Evren Çavdır who lost his life in last month’s earthquake after the hotel he and his family were staying in collapsed.

Among those who attended the ceremony were the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, ministers, MPs, family and colleagues.

Once again there were tears and anger, as family members demanded that the owners of the hotel, believed to have violated building codes which caused the building to collapse, be brought to justice.

Speaking on behalf of the coordination centre, Betül Atasayan Gülseven said that they were all grief stricken by the loss of their co-worker.

“Today is Evren’s birthday. We are celebrating without you. We are gathered here to keep your name alive which is why we have named this conference hall after you,” she said.

Family member Hasan Uluçay who welcomed the decision to name the conference hall after Çavdır demanded that the owners of the hotel be tried and punished.

“We demand the authorities to follow this through to the very end,” he added.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel who also spoke at the ceremony, promised that the government will do all in its power to bring those responsible to justice.

He said that the TRNC, with its government, opposition and civil society was pursuing the matter at the highest level.

Üstel concluded his speech by expressing his condolences for those who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes.

“Your pain is our pain. We will keep them in our hearts forever,” he said.

The ceremony was concluded with a short video prepared in memory of Evren Çavdır.