Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz has described the planned natural gas pipeline from Turkey to the north of Cyprus as a “historic project”, saying Ankara had taken the decision to proceed and would begin implementing specific steps in the coming period.
Speaking alongside Ünal Üstel, the north’s “prime minister”, at the illegal airport in Tymbou during a one-day illegal visit, Yılmaz said the memorandum covering the pipeline’s installation would be signed later on Friday.
Plans for the gas pipeline
“The project that should mark today is, of course, the natural gas project,” Yılmaz said, adding that energy was a critical factor for both economic development and people’s daily lives.
He said the aim was to provide “higher-quality, uninterrupted and cheaper energy”, comparing the planned pipeline with the undersea water pipeline linking Turkey with the north.
According to Yılmaz, the energy project would create another “unshakeable bond” between Turkey and the occupied areas.
Üstel described the memorandum as a “historic turning point”, claiming it would reduce electricity generation costs and strengthen energy security and the competitiveness of the economy in the north.
Ankara repeats two-state position
Yılmaz also reiterated Ankara’s support for a two-state settlement in Cyprus, saying that “the most realistic solution to the Cyprus problem lies in the existence of two states side by side”.
He called for the recognition of what he described as the sovereign equality and equal international status of Turkish Cypriots, as well as an end to their alleged “isolation”.
Reaction to European Parliament resolution
Referring to the European Parliament resolution addressing the impact of Turkey’s 1974 invasion on women and girls in Cyprus, Yılmaz said Turkey did not recognise the decision and regarded it as “baseless”.
He claimed that the European Parliament had “turned into an instrument of Greek Cypriot propaganda” and referred to the Turkish invasion as a so-called “peace operation”, arguing that it had brought security to both communities.
Yılmaz also linked the resolution to relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, calling on the European Parliament to focus instead on developments in Gaza.
Firefighting helicopter for the north
The Turkish Vice President also announced that a firefighting helicopter would be stationed in the north during the summer period.
He said climate change had increased the risk of forest fires across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Source: CNA
