HISTORY OF NICOSIA TURKISH MUNICIPALITY 

The island of Cyprus stayed under various empires and crown kingdoms from 1450 B.E to the year of its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1571. Right after the island of Cyprus went under the contol of  the Ottoman Empire in 1571, Nicosia as the capital city got divided into 16 districts and a Muslim Kadi was brought to the head of each district as its head.

Since Nicosia was the center of the city and had private administration, the Head Kadi (Molla) was always brought to the head of Nicosia. Undoubtedly, conducting the difficult and different bussinesses alone was impossible for the Kadi, so he had several deputies.

It was difficult to fulfill some needs of Nicosians, therefore sometimes some services such as cleaning, sewage and especially fire brigading were fulfilled by Nicosians themselves. In such situations, the municipality was only guiding them instead of doing the work.

Administration was then taken from the Kadis over to the Lieutenant Colonel but there was no change for the City of Nicosia.

After the British were entitled to the management of  the island with the “Confederacy Agreement” in June 4 1878, Nicosia continued to be used as Capital city. Right after the British came to the island, a new Municipal Council was formed in Nicosia and an Englishman was appointed as a Mayor by the Vali.

The first Municipal Committee was established in 16.06.1958 in Nicosia. In this committee which was called the ‘Interim Nicosia Municipal Council’, Dr. Tahsin S. Gözmen worked as the Mayor, Ümit Süleyman as the Deputy Mayor and Ekrem Ferdi Sarper and Mecit Tevfik worked as Members of the Municipal Council.

A law called “Turkish Municipal Commitees (Interim judgements) Law” was made in October,12 1959 by English Colony and by this law the Nicosia Municipal Committee and Municipal Committees formed by the Turks who live in the other districts were legally and officially recognized. However, the Greeks always came out against this law and spent much effort in order to establish United Municipalities System and to abrogate the same Turkish Municipalities.

Right after the armed conflict between Cypriot Turks and Greeks in December, 21 1963, it was difficult to live in the small settling areas for the Turks who were inhabiting the island. Meanwhile, Nicosia which was a whole city became divided into two regions as the Turkish region and the Greek region.

By the decleration of the Cyprus Turkish Interim Administration and by allowing trade in and out of the Turkish zone, a liveliness occured in the public’s economic and social life.  In light of this improvements, the Nicosia Turkish Municipality was able to collect tax in a certain amount  and provide services in the field of health, cleaning, public works, butchery, transportation and municipal police.

After the Peace Operation in 1974, the Nicosia Turkish Municipality which kept on doing its activities in an atmosphere of freedom, although its population increased, its boundaries expanded, and its functions became intensive, succeed to serve the Municipal services to the public in the most efficient way.