CTP Calls For Withdrawal Of Draft Law On Karpaz Forest Lands

In a statement, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) said it has evaluated public concerns and objections regarding the inclusion of Karpaz forest lands in the leasing framework, stressing that the issue should be reconsidered with the involvement of all stakeholders.

The party underlined that it follows a political approach open to criticism, stating that it comes from a tradition that listens to, discusses, and takes into account societal sensitivities rather than being disturbed by criticism.

Following its assessment, the CTP noted that the size of the land proposed for leasing has raised environmental and social concerns, adding that the most appropriate step at this stage would be to withdraw the draft law. It further announced that if the government does not respond positively to this call, the party will vote against the draft titled “Amendment Law on the Transfer and Leasing of Low Forest Lands.”

The statement also recalled that the party has long supported the vision of establishing an Istanbul Technical University campus in Karpaz, describing it as a strategic initiative pursued for more than two decades. It noted that the framework protocol for the establishment of ITU-TRNC was signed on January 19, 2008, approved by parliament on March 24, 2008, and the legal basis was completed with the passage of the ITU Establishment Law on March 16, 2009.

The party added that the land allocation protocol signed in 2010, which defined the size of the land, was scrutinized by CTP at both committee and general assembly stages, and that environmentally significant adjustments were made during that process. It also emphasized that no new lands have been included in leasing arrangements since 2010.

CTP described the planned university in Karpaz not merely as an investment, but as an opportunity for regional development, youth employment, revitalization of the area, and planned growth. At the same time, it stressed that environmental protection, the future of forest lands, planning balance, and the principle of public interest remain essential.

The statement concluded that “societal sensitivities are at the center of our politics,” adding that a new evaluation is necessary to ensure planned development and environmental balance.