Tatar: We are ready to share water with the Greek Cypriots

Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar said on Thursday that the north is “ready to share water with the Greek Cypriots should needs arise.

Tatar was speaking at the Near East University’s environment conference and said, “a great service has been done to the TRNC by bringing water from Turkey.”

He added that “this great gain has been achieved by bringing water that previously flowed into the sea from Anatolia into the country.”

He also said that “population growth and other developments” have led Cyprus into a situation whereby water must be used efficiently.

“Expectations of greater prosperity due to an increasing population and needs put pressure on our resources. We should act by taking advantage of technology to make savings and be more efficient,” he said.

Tatar also spoke about the planned electricity cable which would connect Turkey and the north.

He said “an offer has been made to the Greek Cypriot side” to be included in the interconnected system which will connect the north to the European Union’s grid via Turkey, saying that such a plan is “safer and cheaper” than other interconnector plans which have been floated.

Additionally, he briefly levelled criticism at the global COP meetings, saying “suggestions have been made at international meetings to reduce our impact on the environment, but no steps have been taken.”

He added that moves should be made for the purpose of greater sustainability and protecting the environment.

“Such moves are expensive and difficult, but we have a duty to protect the island of Cyprus and leave it to future generations in a better state than we found it,” he said.