As the inauguration of what has been called the ‘project of the century’, was going on, political parties and unions in the north staged protests against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the project.

On Saturday noon, while arrangements were underway for the inauguration in both locations, Anamur, Mersin and Myrtou in Cyprus, a protest took place outside the embassy of Turkey in the north part of Nicosia, organised by the Turkish Cypriot Teacher’s organisation (KTÖS), political parties and non-governmental organisations.

Protesters held balloons that symbolised the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Ankara. They also held placards saying: “the water you brought cannot wash away the blood of the animals you took”, “we mourn and we resist” and “we do not forget the lives you took, we don’t want the water and your embassy”.

KTOS general secretary Sener Elcil called Erdogan “a dictator” and said that he supported jihadists and terrorism.

He also said that Turkey did not bring peace to Cyprus in 1974 and that Erdogan was the main obstacle for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The head of KTOS Semen Saygun said that Erdogan was not welcome in Cyprus and that his presence was “an insult to Turkish Cypriots”.

He added that the ‘project of the century’ was in fact the “disaster of the century as it would end up hurting the environment.

Also participating in the protest was the New Cyprus party (YKP), the United Cyprus party (BKP) and the Cyprus Socialist party (KSP).

A quick vox pop in the north by the Cyprus Mail indicated that opinions differed when it came to what Turkish Cypriots believed on the issue of who should manage the water and the fact that invitations for the inauguration were sent by Ankara and not the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

“I don’t think the north will benefit from this project. The Turkish Republic tries to disempower and control the Turkish Cypriots all the time. The water was supposed to be granted to the Turkish Cypriots by the Turkish government. As this is the case Turkish Cypriot municipalities should manage the water all together. The fact that Erdogan invited Akinci to the ceremony shows that he sees the north as the colony of Turkey and our president as an official working for his country. It is not acceptable to invite a president to a ceremony in his country by another one”

Havva Yüce, English teacher

“I believe this project will benefit the north but also the south. It will be another great source that both sides will have a chance to share. It’s been a long time that we didn’t have proper water, even for shower or drinking. I believe municipalities should have manage the water, because Turkey thinks that we are not capable of doing anything. But we should change this belief! It’s a bit weird Erdogan inviting Akinci. It’s like he owns the water and the land. OK, you brought the water but let the Cypriots invite you to join this beautiful occasion and honour you!”

Dr Gurtac Yemiscioglu, lecturer in electrical engineering

“I should be careful to say if I think the water will benefit the north or not. There is a lot of room for speculation here. If there is a need for water, i.e. if there are recurring droughts on the island that is holding back the expansion of the agricultural sector, then the answer is pretty obvious. The water should be managed by whoever is most competent to do so. Again here it is political stage managing that is causing controversy; will Turkey manage the water irrespective of the needs of the TC’s or should the municipalities have the power? The question is what actually needs to be managed? When you look in deeper, the question becomes of expertise more than political stage dressing. If you’re a person who is wary of Turkey’s involvement in the north then you’ll make a big deal about who got the invite. At the end of the day, this is a Turkish project; billions of dollars were spent, probably right that they should have the glory”

Doctoral researcher Selcuk Bulut





