*Press Release by Yiannis Karousos

In February 2025, during his visit to the Famagusta District, the President of the Republic announced the creation of university facilities, promising a university presence in both municipalities of the free district.

A few weeks earlier, in January 2025, government representatives assured the relevant parliamentary committee that the planning was already at an advanced stage. In fact, they had even named the university that would participate in the project’s implementation.

Almost a year and a half later, there has been no substantial progress. No official update, no timeline, and no indication that these specific commitments are moving toward implementation.

Famagusta cannot continue to live on promises, nor can it be used as a backdrop for announcements that are subsequently abandoned without any explanation.

The establishment of university facilities is a strategic investment for the district. It can create jobs, attract students and academic staff, boost the local economy, and offer new prospects to our young people.

The government must provide a clear answer:

• Is the plan to establish university facilities in the Famagusta district still in effect?
• What is the current status of this plan?
• What is the timeline for its implementation?
• When will citizens see the first concrete step?
• Or have these announcements been quietly abandoned?

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the Famagusta district has heard grand promises that have not been fulfilled. The development of our district cannot depend on public relations announcements that are not backed by political will, concrete planning, and implementation.

As President of the Famagusta EOA, I will continue to vigorously advocate for every project our region deserves and demand accountability for every public commitment made to our citizens.

A government’s credibility is judged by the consistency of its words and actions. It is judged by the projects it delivers. In the case of the university’s presence in Famagusta, nearly a year and a half later, we have seen no results and received no updates.