Evkaf: The Vakıf Status Of Yavuz Çıkarma Beach Is Being Preserved

Evkaf said it deemed it necessary to inform the public after some media outlets published reports about the site.

The administration stressed that Yavuz Çıkarma Beach is not an ordinary coastal area or merely a commercial zone, but a historically and spiritually significant location that holds a special place in collective memory as the first landing site of the 20 July 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation.

It added that protecting the memory of martyrs and safeguarding historical and national heritage is among its core responsibilities.

Evkaf stated that the previous lease agreement for the property expired in 2024, and that ownership remains with the administration. It said authority over leasing, use, and other forms of disposition lies with Evkaf under the relevant legal framework.

The statement noted that efforts have been initiated by the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Command to preserve the site’s historical character and to develop it as an open-air museum to commemorate the 20 July 1974 operation.

It added that coordination and consultations have been carried out between the Security Forces Command, Evkaf, and the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Command.

Evkaf said that, following a proposal by General Manager Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tümer, the Evkaf Board decided on 3 June 2026 to lease the property to the Security Forces Command for 30 years as part of efforts to protect its historical and spiritual identity.

It emphasized that the decision does not affect ownership of the property and that its vakıf status remains unchanged.

The administration said the aim of the decision is to protect the site’s historical, cultural, and spiritual value in the public interest and to pass this heritage on to future generations.

It also stated that the process is not based on unilateral assessments by any individual or institution, but is an institutional procedure carried out through mutual consultations and official evaluations between relevant state bodies.

Evkaf added that the site’s historical and spiritual significance goes beyond daily commercial considerations, and that it should be preserved as a place of memory reflecting the sacrifices of martyrs and the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence.

The administration said it will continue to manage vakıf properties within the legal framework and in cooperation with relevant institutions.