President Ersin Tatar signs the "Lefkoşa Climate Agreement"
President Ersin Tatar has attended the Northern Cyprus Climate Summit organised by the Turkish Cypriot Centre for Political and Social Research (SITA).
Photos
The "Lefkoşa Climate Agreement" was signed at the Summit, which was organised with the aim of "determining the effects of the crisis caused in the country by climate-related issues, contributing to the determination of national prevention and adaptation strategies, laying the groundwork for drawing up emergency measure plans, and mobilising non-governmental organisations, the civil society and decision-makers".
The agreement was signed by President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoğlu and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Chairman Tufan Erhürman.
President Tatar, who addressed the event, wished for the summit "to be beneficial for the country" and stated that "although TRNC does not cover a very big geographic area, it has an important place in the region".
President Tatar said that the respective departments of the state were continuing to monitor the developments in the region with concern. "I strongly condemn the violence and acts of brutality that is causing such catastrophy and human suffering, in a conflict that is just 100km away," President Tatar said. Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot People, who have previously lived through island-wide attacks and persecution, the President stated: "The Turkish Cypriot People are able to comprehend the pain and suffering being lived in our region today, because we have passed through similar conditions and attrocities. This is why it is very important for us to maintain solidarity and unity in protecting our legitimate rights as Turkish Cypriot people, and this also includes giving absolute sensitivity and importance to protecting the environment."
President Tatar stressed that there is a growing sense of attributing importance to issues related to the protection of our environment, but said that sufficient measures have not been taken with regards to public health and environmental awareness, as the TRNC continues to develop. "It is not too late to take the needed measures," President Tatar said. "Steps can be taken to address these issues for the protection of our environment and public health".
Explaining that the water being transported via 80km long undersea pipeline at a rate of 75 million m3 per annum from Türkiye to the TRNC will also allow for the replenishment of our underground water reserves, President Tatar said: "The water from Anatolia will also be used to replenish our greenery, and be utilised by our agricultural sector."
President Tatar stated that one of the cooperation proposals made to the Greek Cypriot Side was about having an interconnection system to the European continent via Türkiye, which would allow for sustainable energy acquisition that would benefit both sides. "Regretfully, the Greek Cypriot Side never responded to this environmentally-friendly proposal in a positive manner," he said.
President Tatar said it is his belief that by using and supporting green energy in the country, a radical solution would be found to the problem of fossil fuel use, and stated that the Republic of Türkiye also supports this project. President Tatar explained that South Cyprus could cooperate with the TRNC on water and electricity, but would not do so as they think this would "lead to the upgrading of the political status of the TRNC, and lead to the recognition of our State".
"If a solution to the fossil fuel problem is found, we, as the Island of Cyprus, could contribute positively to the issue of climate change," President Tatar said. "As the Presidency, we are making the necessary efforts to contribute to environmental issues and have made constructive cooperation proposals to the Greek Cypriot Side to this effect," he said.
President Tatar also stated that there are projects being held under the auspices of the Presidency with regards to zero waste and recycling -- such as the pilot project in the village of Tatlısu. "We must work towards using waste materials and recycling them, and producing energy from this waste," he said.
Presidemt Tatar thanked SİTA for organising the summit and for drawing up the Lefkoşa Climate Agreement, saying that the issue of defending the environment, preventing pollution by taking measures and addressing the issue of climate change "is indeed a global challenge that requires the cooperation of the whole of humanity and all nations".
The agreement was signed by President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoğlu and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Chairman Tufan Erhürman.
President Tatar, who addressed the event, wished for the summit "to be beneficial for the country" and stated that "although TRNC does not cover a very big geographic area, it has an important place in the region".
President Tatar said that the respective departments of the state were continuing to monitor the developments in the region with concern. "I strongly condemn the violence and acts of brutality that is causing such catastrophy and human suffering, in a conflict that is just 100km away," President Tatar said. Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot People, who have previously lived through island-wide attacks and persecution, the President stated: "The Turkish Cypriot People are able to comprehend the pain and suffering being lived in our region today, because we have passed through similar conditions and attrocities. This is why it is very important for us to maintain solidarity and unity in protecting our legitimate rights as Turkish Cypriot people, and this also includes giving absolute sensitivity and importance to protecting the environment."
President Tatar stressed that there is a growing sense of attributing importance to issues related to the protection of our environment, but said that sufficient measures have not been taken with regards to public health and environmental awareness, as the TRNC continues to develop. "It is not too late to take the needed measures," President Tatar said. "Steps can be taken to address these issues for the protection of our environment and public health".
Explaining that the water being transported via 80km long undersea pipeline at a rate of 75 million m3 per annum from Türkiye to the TRNC will also allow for the replenishment of our underground water reserves, President Tatar said: "The water from Anatolia will also be used to replenish our greenery, and be utilised by our agricultural sector."
President Tatar stated that one of the cooperation proposals made to the Greek Cypriot Side was about having an interconnection system to the European continent via Türkiye, which would allow for sustainable energy acquisition that would benefit both sides. "Regretfully, the Greek Cypriot Side never responded to this environmentally-friendly proposal in a positive manner," he said.
President Tatar said it is his belief that by using and supporting green energy in the country, a radical solution would be found to the problem of fossil fuel use, and stated that the Republic of Türkiye also supports this project. President Tatar explained that South Cyprus could cooperate with the TRNC on water and electricity, but would not do so as they think this would "lead to the upgrading of the political status of the TRNC, and lead to the recognition of our State".
"If a solution to the fossil fuel problem is found, we, as the Island of Cyprus, could contribute positively to the issue of climate change," President Tatar said. "As the Presidency, we are making the necessary efforts to contribute to environmental issues and have made constructive cooperation proposals to the Greek Cypriot Side to this effect," he said.
President Tatar also stated that there are projects being held under the auspices of the Presidency with regards to zero waste and recycling -- such as the pilot project in the village of Tatlısu. "We must work towards using waste materials and recycling them, and producing energy from this waste," he said.
Presidemt Tatar thanked SİTA for organising the summit and for drawing up the Lefkoşa Climate Agreement, saying that the issue of defending the environment, preventing pollution by taking measures and addressing the issue of climate change "is indeed a global challenge that requires the cooperation of the whole of humanity and all nations".