Culture and Congress Centre to Famagusta
Famagusta, 4th October 2006 (T.A.K.): The important need to a Culture and Congress Centre will be fulfilled in Famagusta which is known to be the “Capital of Culture and Arts”.
The bid of agreement of building a culture and congress centre was signed today which was projected by Eastern Mediterranean University and Famagusta Municipality and will be financed by Turkish government committee.
The Mayor of Famagusta Municipality Oktay Kayalp, E.M.U. Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Güven and the director of Tosunoğlu Construction Hasan Tosunoğlu signed the bid of agreement during the ceremony held in E.M.U. Senate office.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees Çimen Varer Özturk, E.M.U vice rector Doc. Dr. Mustafa Dağbaşi, the director of E.M.U. Technical affairs Pınar Dağlı and general coordinator of Tosunoğlu Construction Erkan Emekçi were also present in the ceremony.
The Culture Centre is aimed to be built and opened by March 2008.
8000 m2 indoor area
According to the information given in the ceremony by the director of E.M.U Technical affairs Pınar Dağlı, The centre which will be built near E.M.U. Beach Club, will have 8000 m2 indoor area.
There will be an opera and theatre hall for 1200, a conference hall for 350 people besides two halls for 100 and two halls for 60 people each.
Together with a parking area for 500 cars, there will be a central heating and cooling system for the whole complex.
Famagusta Culture and Congress Centre is expected to cost 7 million dollars for building and one million dollars for internal design, 8 million dollars in total.
The Centre, which is the common project of E.M.U. and Famagusta Municipality will be run by E.M.U. and directed by the committee which will be formed between E.M.U. and Famagusta Municipality.
---GUVEN---
E.M.U. Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Güven stated that the university was established in 1979 in Famagusta and now there will also be a Culture and Congress Centre in the year 2008.
Güven stated that this Centre will contribute a lot to the city’s substructure/infrastructure and that the cultural studies in the city will be in a higher dimension.
Güven also said that they have already started negotiations to open the Centre with Namık Kemal’s play “Vatan Yahut Silistre” in 2008 and that Famagusta is expected to be an important city in the world in terms of science, culture and trade in 5-10 years time.
---KAYALP---
The Mayor of Famagusta Municipality Oktay Kayalp stated that it was a very important day for Famagusta and that the Centre will fulfill one of the most important deficiencies of E.M.U. which is working to be a European University.
Kayalp said that the need for such a Centre is felt especially in international festivals and organizations in Famagusta which is known to be the capital of culture and arts in Cyprus and that this Centre will fulfill the deficiency in becoming a European City.
Kayalp stated that they are expecting important number of investments in tourism and that there will be a demand for tourist accommodation so the Culture and Congress Centre will be a good opportunity to start the Congress tourism.
---TOSUNOĞLU---
Hasan Tosunoğlu: the director of Tosunoğlu Construction in his speech stated that as a company they have took part in a lot of important projects and they are excited to have taken part in such an important project like the Culture and Congress Centre.
Tosunoğlu stated that the project is important not only for E.M.U. and Famagusta but also for T.R.N.C. and thus they will try their best to complete the Culture and Congress Centre before the time it is planned.
Tosunoğlu also stated that they are excited that this Centre will be the host to a lot of organizations.