TITLE:
Strategic and Politic Effects of Water from Anatolia to Cyprus
AUTHORS:
Yurdagül Atun, Ata Atun
KEYWORDS:
Turkey, TRNC, Cyprus, Water, Pipe
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Political Science,
Vol.10 No.2,
March
20,
2020
ABSTRACT: Since
December 21, 1963, after the planned armed attacks of Greek Cypriots to Turkish
Cypriots, where both communities are the locals of Cyprus, the political
situation in the island was always strained and time to time broken off. The
political negotiations between the two communities aiming to find a sustainable
solution to the Cyprus problem started in 1968 and still going on. The main dispute between
the two communities is originating from the disagreement on the governance of
the island. There is another problem in the island that concerns both
communities deeply, based on the natural causes, the scarcity of water in
drinking quality for humans, animals and agriculture. The water from Anatolia to Cyprus will overcome the millenniums long draught, scarcity of water and depressed
agriculture and stock breeding in the island, together with a long-lasting solution based on equal
partnership, causing to end the dispute between Turkish and Greek communities
of the island. The water supply Project by pipes from Anatolia to the island of
Cyprus 250 m. Below sea level through Mediterranean Sea is named “Peace Water”
by the Republic of Turkey and TRNC governments.
The political effects of the “Peace Water” are quite negative on the Greek side, believing that
the water supply from Anatolia with strengthening the hands of the Turkish Cypriots on the
negotiation table, and at the same time will cause Greek side to lose a
considerable amount of political superiority. While the water from Anatolia
gave a further push and zest for living and existing, to the human life,
agriculture and stock breeding, it also will contribute to the promotion to the
demands for existing of all kinds of plants, animals, insects and living
creatures. This water project, connecting the island of Cyprus to Anatolia may
also connect Israel to Anatolia through Cyprus and definitely will give birth
to some strategic and geopolitics issues in the eastern Mediterranean region.