Presidential Office, TMMOB Divide Over Palace License
Presidential Office and Turkey’s Union of Architects and Engineers Chambers (TMMOB) made in a series of statements contradicting each other over the license of Ak Saray [White Palace in Turkish] - the new residence of Turkey’s President located in Ankara.
Metin Kıratlı, Vice General Secretary at Presidential Office made a statement, saying that all cases launched against the construction of the palace ended in favor of construction and demonstrated the license of the building as evidence.
“We have a permission dated on October 8, 2014, stating the construction permits. Therefore, there are no administrational issues regarding the construction,” Kıratlı told Anadolu Agency.
Responding to this statement, Chamber of Architects Ankara Chamber made a statement saying that a case regarding the suspension of execution is underway at 5th Administrational Court.
“They are not informing the public correctly,” the chamber said.
On the other hand, Kıratlı made another statement saying that the case launched by TMMOB against Culture Ministry as well as Prime Ministry concerning the planned construction in Atatürk Orman Çiftliği area was related to the suspension of rulings made by Ankara Regional Commision to Protect Natural Artifacts (Tabiat Varlıklarını Koruma Bölge Komisyonu).
He also reminded that Council of State uplifted a ruling that suspended the execution of construction on June 11, 2014 after a series of appeals.
Finally, Chamber of Architects Ankara Division Chairperson Tezcan Karakuş Candan underlined on the 33 ongoing prosecutions against the construction of Ak Saray.
“The information released by the Presidential Office is missing. We have 33 ongoing cases against the construction at Atatürk Orman Çiftliği area,” Candan said.
“The presidential officials are acting as if there is no suspended construction plan. If municipalities ignored the situation and issued out licenses on the construction plans, this is also a violation. This permit is also a violation and it will be the 34th case we will launch. The construction of the White Palace is still not permitted.
“We also have a case pending at Constitutional Court. We are inviting the administrators to share all the truth to the public along with their responsibilities.” (HK/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.