Remembering TC leaders
FINISHING touches are being put to a mausoleum and museum in memory of TRNC founding President Rauf Denktaş which is to open in about two months, Cyprus Today can reveal.
Construction of the eight million TL memorial complex at the Republic Park opposite Lefkoşa State Hospital is in its final stage, with a landscaping project now being worked on by Gönyeli Municipality.
Finance Ministry general coordinator Çelebi Ilık revealed to Cyprus Today: “I can confirm that the opening will be within roughly two months.
“Work at the site has come to an end and we are awaiting the speedy connection of electricity to the site.
“We have now asked Gönyeli Municipality to prepare the very last stage of the project — a landscaping plan that will feature plants and trees to give the place a peaceful atmosphere. Once the project is finalised, it will be passed to the Denktaş family for them to give their consent or request changes.”
Mr Ilık said Mr Denktaş’s belongings and memorabilia would go on display at the site, and added: “We have also decided to include the Mercedes car that used to drive Mr Denktaş around.”
The late president’s son, Finance Minister Serdar Denktaş, confirmed that work had finally “come to the end”, although it would not open in time for tomorrow’s anniversary of his death, as had been hoped.
Contractor Halil Gerçek said construction was complete and all that remained to be finished were the 10 dönüms of garden.
The site’s striking design, by Selim Velioğlu, Erce Funda, Mustafa Orkun Özüer and Ersen Gömleksiz, was runner-up out of 104 submitted in a 2012 international competition to create a lasting memorial to Mr Denktaş following his death that year.
A design by Mehmet Metin Polat and Bilge Altuğ came first, but was abandoned after the late leader’s family requested changes.