Construction of the new Nicosia District Court buildings will be completed in five years, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Wednesday, following a House legal committee meeting.

The meeting was also attended by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.

In his initial statement before the committee, Hartsiotis referred to a long-standing problem which affects the efficiency of the administration of justice.

He added that the procedures for the construction of the new courthouse have progressed, preliminary work (archaeological survey, explosives survey, traffic study) has been completed, and an initial costing of the project has been done.

He also noted that the transport ministry has been attentive to the issue, particularly about the issue of opening a second access passage through the adjacent Unficyp camp and has already been in contact with the department of public works.

Regarding the next steps, Vafeades, said they would need to update the budget to reduce costs, discuss with the department of urban planning to adjust the designs, and launch the architectural competition.

For their part, representatives of the foreign ministry said that a consultation on moving buildings of the Unficyp camp is underway and final recommendations are expected.