A proposal to overcome obstacles and open the way for the implementation of a grand project for the construction of a new district court of Nicosia is being prepared by the minister of transport, Alexandros Vafeades.
The main obstacle to the project’s implementation concerns the installation of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which borders the planned location for the construction of the Courthouse building.
The planned parking area for the new District Court (underground, beneath the new facilities), based on the traffic study, involves the creation of a road that affects UNFICYP.
Specifically, the latter seems to have raised issues regarding the functionality and security of its facilities with the possibility of opening a new road.
In order to address the issues raised by UNFICYP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, has proposed alternative solutions.
However, with Vafeades’s recommendation, the need to find a compromise with the Peacekeeping Force is eliminated.
Specifically, the minister, responding to a question from Phileleftheros, stated that he decided to propose the creation of a new parking area on adjacent land.
He referred to the two plots outside the Courts managed by the Municipality of Nicosia (parking space) and the Department of Public Works.
As Vafeades explained, if these plots are utilized, then there will be no need for a road passing near the UNFICYP facilities. He hastened to emphasize that this is his own idea, the implementation of which will also depend on the opinion of the competent authorities.
He mentioned that he will soon present his proposal at a meeting with the Director of the Department of Public Works, Lefteris Eleftheriou.
Furthermore, responding to a hypothetical question, regarding the piece of land used by the Municipality of Nicosia and whether the municipality would be receptive to relinquishing management of the space, he spoke of compensation that could be provided.
The only certainty is that the situation with the existing Court facilities in Nicosia has reached a stalemate. The need for new space has been identified for decades. Illustrative of this is what the Vice President of the Cyprus Bar Association, Nicolas Tsardellis, stated to Phileleftheros.
Speaking to the newspaper, he referred to a “miserable condition” and added that although the need for a new Courthouse has been highlighted for decades, no government has managed to implement it.
He talked about “creaking floors,” commenting that “we, as lawyers, are ashamed to work in such spaces.” Tsardellis concluded by saying that “we demand from the government to fulfill its promises as soon as possible.”
Phileleftheros also reached out to Member of Parliament (DISY), Nikos Georgiou, who, based on a parliamentary question to the Ministry of Justice, reintroduced the whole issue into public debate.
“The issue has been dragging on for decades and a solution needs to be found,” he said initially and then explained: “The new District Court of Nicosia is a necessity, as it will provide security, prestige, and suitable working conditions for all those serving Justice.”
Nikos Georgiou had submitted a question to the then Minister of Justice, Anna Procopiou-Koukkides, last November, which was answered on February 16 by Marios Hartsiotis, who took over the Ministry’s portfolio in early January.
In his response, among other things, he refers to the procedures for the construction of the new District Court of Nicosia.
He notes that these “are in the final stage” and adds: “Most of the preliminary work required has been completed, such as archaeological research by the Department of Antiquities, investigation for the existence of hazardous materials or explosives in the ground by the Geological Survey Department, traffic study by the Department of Public Works, preparation of architectural program and cost estimation amounting to approximately €100 million. The architectural program includes the District Court and Courts of Special Jurisdiction (Rent Control Court, Military Court, Commercial Court), underground parking spaces, storage areas, etc.”
Regarding the current situation regarding this ambitious project and the next steps by the State, the Minister of Justice notes the following in his response: “(a) For the advancement of the project, it was stipulated by the Department of Public Works (traffic study) that access through the facilities of the Peacekeeping Force (British detachment) ‘Wolseley Barracks’ should be granted, which are located on an adjacent plot, through which the creation of a new road is required, which will be part of the road network. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works, has proposed specific solutions to UNFICYP for the granting of this access, taking into account the positions of the Peacekeeping Force, so as not to affect the functionality and security of its facilities.
(b) The final position of UNFICYP is awaited, and if it accepts the proposal, the General Spatial Plan of the Nicosia Courts (Master Plan) will be finalized by the Department of Town Planning, which will be included in the documents of the competition for the new Court.
(c) The architectural competition for the construction of the new District Court of Nicosia is expected to last about 15 months. After the architectural competition, the tender for the selection of the contractor who will undertake the construction works will be announced and will last 6-9 months. Construction works are estimated to last around four years, depending on the outcome of the architectural competition.”
The issue was raised in November 2021 in connection with the issue of the adoption of bills for the reform of Justice.
The occasion was the stance of the Supreme Court, which did not favour thorough discussion in the Parliament and the promotion of relevant legislation. On November 15, 2021, a broad meeting was convened at the Presidential Palace under the then President, Nikos Anastasiadis.
Participating were the Ministers of Justice and Transport, members of the Supreme Court, and relevant authorities such as the Attorney General and the President of the Cyprus Bar Association.
After its conclusion, the then Minister of Transport, Yiannis Karousos, stated that the final decisions regarding the building needs of the Judiciary had been taken, so as to proceed as soon as possible with the announcement of the architectural competition for the District Court in Nicosia, adding that the goal was to complete the competition by the end of 2022.
