The Turkish Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç is in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for a series of contacts.

Tunç who arrived in the TRNC this morning was greeted by Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz and the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu at Ercan Airport.

The Turkish minister who visited the graves of the Champion Angels volleyball team who perished in the February 6 earthquake in Türkiye said that they will pursue the ongoing judicial process until the very end.

Shortly after his arrival on Friday morning, the Turkish Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç visited the graves of the 35 members of the Champion Angels volleyball team in Gazimağusa.

The youth volleyball team and their coaches had perished in the February 6 earthquake that struck Türkiye after the hotel they were staying in Adıyaman collapsed in the quake.

Speaking there after laying flowers on the graves, the Turkish Minister said that they will be closely following the ongoing trial regarding the owners of the İsias Hotel which is set to begin on January 3.

“We are quite sensitive on the matter. Let everyone rest assured that whoever is responsible in the faulty construction of the building as well as building code violations that occurred after that will be brought to justice,” he said.

Tunç also passed on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message of condolence.

According to the indictment prepared by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the defendants are being charged with “gross negligence” rather than “possible intent” which allows the court to pass a softer sentence to those guilty.

Following his visit to Gazimağusa, the Turkish Minister was received separately by the Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel.

Meeting with the Turkish Minister, Speaker of the Parliament Zorlu Töre reminded that Cyprus was a national cause for Türkiye and that the Turkish Cypriot people shared the interests of the Turkish nation.

He also pointed out that the international community remained silent in the face of atrocities committed across the world, most recently in Gaza which was why Türkiye’s guarantees were indispensible for the Turkish Cypriot people.

The Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç for his part said that Türkiye as a guarantor country will continue to do all that is possible for the welfare and prosperity of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.

Drawing attention to the strong bond that exists between the two countries, Tunç said that nothing could ruin the relationship that existed between Türkiye and the TRNC.

Regarding the İsias trial, Minister Tunç said that those responsible will be brought to justice.

Speaking during his meeting with the Turkish Minister, Prime Minister Üstel said that the Turkish minister’s visit to the TRNC ahead of the İsias trial was quite important.

“The minister’s promise of justice is very important. We have full confidence in the Turkish judicial system,” he said, expressing the hope that such a bitter incident will never be experienced again.

He also said that prefabricated homes for earthquake victims prepared by the TRNC had been sent to İskendurun.

The Turkish Justice Minister for his part reiterated his earlier promise that those guilty will be brought to justice.

He also pointed out that relations between Türkiye and the TRNC were unique.

“We share a joint destiny. The Turkish Cypriot cause is our national cause. We will continue to do everything to voice that cause at every platform,” Tunç added.

In the afternoon, Tunç met with the Minister of Interior Dursun Oğuz before visiting the newly opened central prison.

He then came together with the Executive Board of the Champion Angels Society set up by the families of the youth volleyball team who died in the incident.

In the evening, the Turkish Justice Minister was received by President Ersin Tatar.