The Turkish Cypriot regime in Cyprus’ northern Turkish occupied areas has, for the first time since the 1974 Turkish invasion, asked the Republic of Cyprus for help to address an environmental disaster, Foreign Ministry Acting Permanent Secretary Ambassador Tasos Tzionis told the House Environment Committee on Friday.
He noted the immediate response of the UN regarding this issue and explained that the help related to containing an oil spill off the coast of Karpasia, on the northeast tip of the island. The Fisheries Department informed the Committee that there doesn’t seem to be any danger for the oil spill to spread towards the coastal areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Department officers are monitoring the government-controlled areas of Famagusta district, on the east. and will be vigilant during the next ten days, it added. The MPs expressed their satisfaction with the direct response of the Foreign Ministry to this issue.
They also asked that Turkey’s stance is reported to the UN and other competent international and European fora, since Ankara has hindered the Republic of Cyprus from acting effectively to address destruction in the occupied areas. Tzionis said that according to the latest information, 100 people are transferred from Turkey to the occupied areas to deal with the oil spill while detergents are also dispatched from Turkey. He said that the extent of the oil spill has not be made clear yet, adding however that according to the information by the UN it is estimated at 1000 or over 100 tones of oil, while other information refers to 40 tones of oil Tzionis also said that Turkey will be indicted for posing impediments, expressing the belief that this will be included in the Security Council reports.
He said the Foreign Minister has given instructions to look into the issue of the protection of the environment through the proper implementation of the Green Line regulation. Oil absorbent booms have been dispatched to the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus after a request by the Turkish Cypriots for assistance to deal with an oil spill off the coast of the occupied village of Gastria. The equipment was sent to the occupied north via the Agios Dometios checkpoint, after the initial Turkish Cypriot request for assistance was withdrawn.
The process of transferring the equipment was monitored by UNFICYP, in the presence of members of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber, in an effort to limit the repercussions from the oil spill which happened on Tuesday after a pipeline from a tanker broke during attempts to supply the AKSA Energy power station. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Turkey does
