Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that there should be no doubt that the Pile-Yiğitler road will be constructed.

Speaking during an extraordinary session of the General Assembly on Thursday, Ertuğruloğlu said that work on expanding and repairing the road will go ahead following an understanding to be reached.

During the meeting, Finance Minister Özdemir Berova and Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı also addressed criticisms regarding the €59 million tax break given to Ercan airport’s holding company, T&T, following the opening of the new terminal last month.

Responding to critisizms regarding tensions with the UN on the construction of the Pile-Yiğitler road during an extraordinary session of the Republic’s Assembly on Thursday, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu  referred to the hardships faced by the Turkish Cypriot residents of the village of Pile.

He pointed out that the matter had been brought to the attention of the UN Special Representative Colin Stewart and to his predecessor Elizabeth Spehar but that all requests communicated had fallen on deaf ears.

Ertuğruloğlu said, to make matters worse, the UN had turned a blind eye to similar projects carried out by the Greek Cypriot Administration in the past, arguing that the UN consistently favoured the Greek Cypriot side.

He said the road workers were obstructed and provoked by UN peacekeepers, leading to an escalation and scuffles, something he added that was not approved by anyone.

Responding to the question “Is road construction still ongoing?”, Ertuğruloğlu indicated that work has been temporarily halted as a goodwill gesture, but emphasized that the construction would continue following an understanding to be reahced.

“Let everyone rest assured, this road will be built, interpret it as you wish,” he added.

Responding to another question, Ertuğruloğlu asserted that the Greek Cypriot side had no right to control checkpoints along this route, that controls would be carried out at the border on the Turkish Cypriot side, and that UN officials would still be able to conduct patrols.

Also responding to questions regarding a €59 million tax break given to Ercan airport’s holding company, T&T, the newly appointed Finance Minister Özdemir Berova reminded that the build-operate-transfer agreement for the airport was set to last until January 9, 2042, stating that this was clearly outlined in the agreement

Minister Berova also noted that additional time could be added due to force majeure circumstances within the terms of the agreement, emphasizing that this clause was not included to benefit the company.

He said that the €59 million figure derived from a forecast report prepared by the Central Bank.

Also responding to questions on the matter, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı explained, “We needed to reach a settlement with this company and open the airport without having to resort to litigation. We couldn’t go to court because we couldn’t fulfil the conditions of the contract. We also didn’t have the authority to cancel the contract. During the time when we couldn’t hand over the site, we had to compensate the losses incurred by the relevant company.”

He added that the state had generated €271 million in revenue from the airport so far.

“We receive 48% VAT and a share of the turnover every month,” said Minister Arıklı, adding, “Despite all its shortcomings, we have conducted a quite beneficial tender for the TRNC economy.”