City walls crumbling
Tuncay: Work is imminent after collapse of section of 16th century structure
AT LEAST half a million euros in European Union (EU) funding has been allocated for conserving the TRNC portion of the capital’s Venetian walls, it has been revealed, amid concerns that the historical structure is crumbling.
Turkish Cypriot cochairman of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage Ali Tuncay confirmed work was imminent after a large section of the 16th century defensive walls, part of Quirini Bastion near the TRNC Presidential Palace, collapsed last Friday.
It came after repeated warnings that the walls were not being adequately maintained, and two earlier similar collapses in the Arabahmet quarter of the “old town”.
The Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday that initial expert assessment suggested years-long accumulation of damp within the walls was to blame for Friday’s collapse, and that protection was “a duty which could be no longer delayed”. Mr Tuncay told Cyprus
Today on Tuesday the committee had decided to take up conservation of the historic walls as an “emergency case” following the latest incident.
He confirm their experts had also pointed to humidity as the likely cause but would draw up a detailed report on which to base a plan of action, and the committee would do its utmost, with other relevant bodies, to overcome whatever problems were identified.
However Mr Tuncay said the decay of the walls was the result of a years-long failure to maintain.
“Sustainable maintenance is a vital principle of preserving cultural heritage . . . In the South they ensured [this was done] for their historic walls but we failed to so for years, and here we are now. The Antiquities Department has been trying to do its best within its limited capacity, but they don’t have a big enough budget and the staff to carry out the work needed for sustainable maintenance.”
Mr Tuncay said the bicommunal committee was now about to embark on a UNDP-backed conservation project — devised late in 2017 under the directive of President Mustafa Akıncı — following initial diagnosis of two major problems with the walls: damp and the effect of weeds and tree roots.
The first stage — expected to start in September and last until November — covers an area from the Mulla Bastion (Çetinkaya area) to Girne Gate and the second stage, lined up for April and May next year, covers an area from Girne Gate to the Flatro Bastion (Zeytinli area).
Restoration and maintenance work will start once the tender for the repair of wall damage in the Arabahmet area is finalised.
“Of course we need to carry out a more detailed and comprehensive investigation to identify the problematic areas, as there could be some more areas where the historic walls are on the verge of collapse,” said Mr Tuncay.
“The committee has allocated about a half million euros from EU grants for the conservation of the walls in the North, but this figure could be much higher in light of impending reports identifying their state.”
Town Planning, Antiquities and Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality teams also carried out investigations in the area after last Friday’s collapse.
Lefkoşa Mayor Mehmet Harmancı said his authority stood ready to assist and contribute to the conservation of the 500-year-old walls, which he described as “the most crucial component” of the city’s history.