Akinci and political parties conveyed their condolences to the families of the two fire-fighters who lost their lives

Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-22

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory – Previous Article– Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 115/16 22.06.2016

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey has reportedly decided not to send help for the fire on Troodos Mountains

According to Pusula Kibris website (22.06.16, http://pusulakibris.com), Turkish officials in Ankara got angry with the conditions put forward by the Republic of Cyprus for accepting Turkey’s offer to help in extinguishing the fire on Troodos Mountains and decided not to send the two firefighting helicopters and the one airplane which are waiting ready to interfere in Silifke and Antalya.Noting that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci conveyed to Turkish officials the conditioned acceptance of their offer by the Greek Cypriots, the website claims the following:

“Ankara evaluated the conditioned proposal of the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish diplomats reacted by saying: ‘This is a natural disaster. We are offering help and we are getting ready. And the Greek Cypriots put as a condition about the route. The pilots are those who decide the route of the flight and where the water will be poured’. After the conditions to offering help, Turkey decided not to send the two helicopters and the one airplane which are waiting in Silifke and Antalya”.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The Turkish Cypriot press continues covering the fire on Troodos Mountains; Positive reactions to the Republic of Cyprus’ accepting Turkey’s help

The Turkish Cypriot newspapers continue giving extensive coverage on their front pages today (22.06.16) to the fire on the Troodos Mountains.Under the title “Conditioned Yes”, daily Afrika newspaper reports that the Tweet of President Anastasiades that the Republic of Cyprus accepts the help offered by Turkey in the efforts of extinguishing the fire on the condition that the Pafos and Larnaka airports are used and the water is taken from the Republic of Cyprus’ territorial waters fell “like a bomb” yesterday on the agenda. The paper writes that following instructions by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim two firefighting helicopters and one airplane are waiting ready to help in the efforts of extinguishing the fire on Troodos. The Turkish Forests and Water Affairs’ Minister, Veysel Eroglu stated yesterday that if “south Cyprus”, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, asked for help, “we will not refrain from extending our hand to help”.

Under the title “Let peace be born from the ashes”, daily Yeni Duzen cites sources from Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci’s office, according to which the “official contacts” as regards this development were taking place all night long yesterday. The “officials” said that Turkey’s aid in extinguishing the fire will the earliest start today in the morning.

Daily Kibris Postasi refers to the issue under the title “Akinci-Anastasiades talked three times, the Greek Cypriots accepted Turkey’s offer for help in the end”! The paper also cites sources close to Akinci and writes that Akinci called three times yesterday to President Anastasiades to offer him help and told him that “you can take water from Morfou Bay whenever you want”. According to the paper, the third conversation between Akinci and President Anastasiades took place after Veysel Eroglu’s statement that Turkey was ready to offer help. Akinci has reportedly conveyed the conditions of the Republic of Cyprus to Turkey and received a positive reply.

Daily Ortam refers to a “correct decision” by the Republic of Cyprus and reports that “logic prevailed”. Noting that the decision “broke down an important taboo”, the paper writes that the Greek Cypriots did not commit the mistake made by the Turkish Cypriots, who had not accepted the Greek Cypriot help in 1995 when occupied Pentadaktylos Mountain was burning.

Other papers cover the issue under the following front page titles:

Kibris: “South Cyprus accepted Turkey’s demand for help”

Havadis: “Important cooperation”

Kibrisli: “They conditionally accepted Turkey’s help”

Halkin Sesi: “Historic cooperation”

Vatan: “Turkey is coming”

Star Kibris: “Historic decision by the Greek Administration of South Cyprus”

Detay: “Our lung burned”

Gunes: “The Greek Cypriots accepted”

Diyalog: “Yes under conditions by the Greek Cypriots”

Yeni Bakis: “Together in the intervention in the tragedy”

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci and political parties conveyed their condolences to the families of the two fire-fighters who lost their lives

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (22.06.16) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci conveyed his condolences to the Greek Cypriot fire fighters who lost their lives in the forest fire in Troodos mountains.According to a statement issued by Akinci’s office, the statement read: “It is with great sadness that I have been following from the very beginning the destruction and devastation caused by the fires in Troodos. I have also learned about the tragic loss of the two fire fighters. On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot community and myself, I would like to convey heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones, while sharing the grief of the Greek Cypriot community”.

On the same issue, the paper reports that the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, in a written statement, called all the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties that will meet today at Ledra Palace hotel under the auspice? of the Slovakian Embasy to have a “fire agenda”. He added that although the agenda is determined from before, the fire issue is an emergency and they should discuss what and how the political parties can do in such situation.

Ozyigit further said: “While our common land is being burned furiously, the operations should be done jointly”, adding that the fire at the Troodos mountains tears their heart out. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the two Greek Cypriot fire fighters who lost their lives.

Furthermore, the paper reports that Kemal Gulercan, member of the party committee of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), said that they suffer watching this tragedy which started at the Troodos mountain and still continues. He reminded the big fire on Pentadaxtylos mountain range on June 26. 1996, which was the cause to lose the 9% of their forest. He noted that ecology is the biggest wealth for the humanity and made a call to the leaders to make a step together in order to develop the cooperation and trust to the communities.

The Famagusta Initiative called Akinci and Anastasiades to take the lead, to be the carriers of a joint work in order to reform and rehabilitate the burning area at Troodos mountain.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (22.06.16) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), in a message, expressed its sadness for the fire and the loss of the two firefighters. It added that the pain is huge to see the island to be burned and conveyed its condolences to the families of the fire fighters.