The foundations of the TRNC Drinking Water Treatment Facility, Gecitkoy Elevation Centre, Nicosia Supply Pipe and Kyrenia Supply Pipe were laid on Saturday in Camlibel in relation to the project for piping water from Turkey to the TRNC.
Addressing the ceremony, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for Cypriot Affairs, Besir Atalay (above) said that they want to celebrate two feasts together on 20th July 2014 in the TRNC and if this was is not possible, the building contractors are committed to complete the project by September, 2014, at the latest.
Atalay said that with the new water supply, land in the TRNC will gain in value, production will increase as will prosperity and that the ties between Turkey and the TRNC will be strengthened further.
He added that it is Turkey’s wish that the Turkish Cypriots live in prosperity regardless of whether or not a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached.
He also referred to the protocol relating to free State health care that had just been signed between Turkey and the TRNC and said that more than 30 thousand students from Turkey will benefit from this agreement.
In his statements, President Dervis Eroglu said that something which he had been dreaming of, throughout the whole of his political career had come to life and declared that they are on the eve of solving their water and energy problems in the TRNC. President Eroglu stated that the project sends the message to the world that “Turkey does not abandon the TRNC” and at the same time it strengthens the Turkish side at the negotiating table for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. He argued that water would be a trump card for the TRNC, should the issue of sharing this water with the Greek Cypriot’s come onto the agenda in the future.
In his address, Prime Minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu argued that the water was necessary for achieving peace and solution in the country and thanked everybody who contributed in the realisation of this project.
