Turkish Energy Minister meets self-styled minister Atun

Illegal Bayrak (18.07.11) reported on the contacts of self-styled minister of economy and energy of the breakaway regime in the occupied area Sunat Atun, in Ankara. During his visit, Atun met with the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz, and discussed the issues of water and electricity transfer from Turkey to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. At the meeting, the Turkish Minister expressed full support to the policies of the occupation regime on energy.

In addition, according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.07.11), Yildiz said that his Ministry prepared a master plan and a structuring in the energy area for the “TRNC”. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yildiz said that his Ministry prepared a wide-scale master plan, and created a structure which would meet the energy needs of the whole of Cyprus by 2023.

Recalling that the “TRNC” started to give electricity to the Greek Cypriot side two days ago, Yildiz said that it should be considered like a humanitarian assistance. Yildiz said that they recommended to set up a “joint transfer centre” for the two sides of Cyprus regarding electricity energy in the master plan, adding that if such centre had been established before, the Greek Cypriot side would not have had such an electricity shortage today.

On his part, Atun said that the “TRNC” was providing 16-megawatt electricity energy at night and 20 megawatt in daytime to the Greek Cypriot side. “Actually, we have the capacity to provide 100-120 megawatt electricity to the Greek Cypriot side, but we have technical insufficiencies in distribution,” said Akin.

Akin said that it was necessary to set up a “joint transfer centre” that would meet the electricity needs of both sides in the island. Noting that Turkey gives great support and contribution to the “TRNC”, Atun said that efforts were under way to carry water from Turkey to the “TRNC” through an underwater pipeline, adding that the water would reach “TRNC” in 2014.

Ersin Tatar on the “TRNC economy”; He referred to the possibility of also providing water to the Greek Cypriot side

Under the title: “The Turkish Cypriot people are hearty devoted to Motherland Turkey”, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (19.07.11) reports on statements by Ersin Tatar, self-styled minister of finance who has, inter alia, said that the previous year an increase of 20% has been appeared in the number of tourists visiting the “TRNC” by air.

Speaking to the members of the “Association of Diplomacy Correspondents” who are visiting the occupied area of Cyprus for the “celebrations” of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, Tatar said the reforms being done during the recent years had as a result the balance of the “TRNC budget” to a great extent.

Saying that tourism and education are the most important revenue resources in the “TRNC”, Tatar said that last year an increase of around 20% was observed in the number of tourists visiting the occupied area by air, adding that a total of around 60-70 airplanes landed at the illegal Ercan airport.

Explaining that Turkey contributed 3 billion TL to the “TRNC budget” during the past three years, Tatar said that a lot of reforms were made to balance the “budget” adding that he was accused by several politicians on this issue.

Referring to the political problems experienced in the island, Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriots got tired with the non-solution.

Stressing the importance of Turkey for the “TRNC”, he recalled the fact that some marginal groups opened placards in several demonstrations in the past against Turkey; however, he said the 80%-90% of the Turkish Cypriots are hearty devoted to Turkey. Tatar said also that the Turkish Cypriots see Turkey to grow up globally and in the region and do not want to be an obstacle in front of Turkey. He then added that they are expecting for a political solution.

Referring to the ties with the Greek Cypriot side, Tatar referred to the transferring of electricity to the Greek Cypriot side due to the electricity difficulties experienced after the recent blast in Mari.

On the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to the occupied area of Cyprus for the “celebrations” of the “37th anniversary” of the Turkish invasion in the island, Tatar said that Erdogan will inaugurate several complexes, such as the social housing, a hotel, a theater, a shipyard and a road.

He further said that the issue of transferring water to the Greek Cypriot side will be also in the agenda. Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriots are waiting for years for the transferring of water from Turkey to the “TRNC” and used the expression “You said that the Turkish army cannot come, but it came. Hopefully, the water will come as well”.

Referring to the project for transferring water from Turkey to the occupied area, Tatar said that it is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 and added that the aim is to bring 75 million cubic meters to the “TRNC”.

Ersin Tatar further said that as it was made known, according to unofficial sources, the Greek Cypriot side has sent a letter to the “TRNC” proposing the transferring of water to the Greek Cypriot side in order to overpass the difficulties experienced. Tatar added that the officials stated that the issue of providing water to the Greek Cypriot side will come to the agenda after the completion of the project.