Meeting of the Left Group in the European Parliament and AKEL on the demographic alteration and environmental degradation of the Karpasia peninsula

 

The Karpasia peninsula is an area rich in biological and environmental diversity and is one of four major ecological regions across Cyprus. In recent years, Turkey and Erdogan, for geopolitical reasons, have intensified the process of altering the demographicstructure of the occupied areas of Cyprus through its colonization policy. At the same time, colonization is facilitating the investment activity of Turkey’s big capital in the Karpasia

peninsula.
AKEL highlights the political dimension of demographic alteration of the occupied areas of Cyprus through the Turkish colonization,but also its environmental aspect. This is an issue that concerns all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. In this context, the AKEL Delegation in the GUE / NGL Group and the Confederal Group of GUE / NGL in the European Parliament organized on 1st June 2013, an event entitled “The demographic
alteration and the environmental degradation of the Karpasia peninsula – the European Dimension”. Speakers included cadres of AKEL, a representative of the Turkish Cypriots,
the environmental movement, as well as GUE/NGL MEP, Kartika Liotard.
Neoklis Silikiotis, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL, who in his introductory speech stated that since 2007 and onwards, there is a continuous effort from the given Turkish Cypriot leaderships to create the necessary infrastructures to
make the Karpasia area into another tourist zone, thus jeopardizing the historical and cultural structure of Karpasia peninsula.
The reckless and illegal development in the Karpasia Peninsula is undermining the ecosystem and cultural and historic environment of the region. It is drastically changing the demographic structure and imposing barriers to a lasting and sustainable, just under the circumstances solution of the Cyprus problem. As such, it must be annulled for our common interest. The need for collective action, together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, to address not only environmental, but also socio-economic problems is today more pressing than ever before. He urged the EU to show real sensitivity with regards the change of the demographic situation in the occupied territories. The environmental degradation and destruction in the Karpasia peninsula, is a political and economic tool of the ruling class in Turkey, which through the Islamic big capital, is consolidating this illegal situation.
Adamos Adamou, AKEL-Left-New Forces MP and Chairman of the Environment Committee of the House of Representatives, noted in principle that the Karpasia peninsula is the only Mediterranean ecosystem with a global significance. Among the examples, he said, are the 12,500 native plants, several million migratory birds, rare turtles, seals and waterfowl.

The o c c u p a t i o n and c o l o n i z a t i o n are al so threatening the environment we have all witnessed an intense effort for investment and growth in the region, which undoubtedly threatens the entire ecosystem. “An area which falls within the Special Protection Area cannot be destroyed, its land sold off for the functioning of branches of Turkish universities and Turkish football clubs and in addition the construction of new hotels and roads planned, instead of sustainable development projects in Karpasia community being promoted.”
Kartika Liotart, Vice President of GUE/NGL Group, and member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament, in her speech on “European policies on the environment and the privatization of natural resources,” said that a “NATURA 2000” area provides goods and ecosystem services, for example the creation of jobs for the preparation and maintenance of the ecosystem, eco-tourism and recreation (direct and indirect employment).
The comprehensive study “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity” is a very big project that highlights that a sustainable management of natural resources is a key element in achieving the goals for the reduction of poverty, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals. In short, the prudent management of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity can help to reduce poverty. Finally, she stressed the support of GUE / NGL in the fight Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, for liberation and reunification of the island.
Petros Pashias, President of the Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus, stated that the Federation considers the continuing ecological destruction as our country’s number one environmental problem, along with the illegal Turkish invasion and continuing occupation, resulting in the violent uprooting of people from their natural space and all the other effects. “We consider as solely responsible for the destruction taking place in recent years in Karpasia peninsula the ruling political forces in Turkey, and the illegal regime subordinate to them which have imposed in the occupied territories of the Republic.” Furthermore, he called on all the environmental organizations of the island to cooperate for the preparation of a Strategic Management Plan of the Karpasia Peninsula, in order to set out the conditions and terms that will lead to the protection of this sensitive area.
Abdullah Korkmazhan, Member of the Political Bureau of the Turkish Cypriot “United Cyprus Party “(BKP), stressed that the alteration of the demographic structure and the destruction of the environment of the Karpasia Peninsula, are the most important aspects of the policies pursued aiming at the colonization of the north of Cyprus. One of the biggest problems faced by Turkish Cypriots, he said, is the danger of the very extinction of our community, as a result of the systematic policy of the transfer of population. This policy, implementedsince 1974 and which has become even more noticeable from 2000 onwards, is part of the policy of colonization of the northern part of Cyprus, aiming at its assimilation to Turkey. This policy is the same policy implemented by Israel which is constructing settlements in the Palestinian territories and placing settlers in these settlements. In addition, he cited evidence of these developments, noting that the colonization in the north of Cyprus and the policy of systematic assimilation applied to Turkish Cypriots constitutes a war crime.
Regarding the Karpasia peninsula, he said that what is happening can be summed up in the phrase “Capitalism cuts the tree of which it can’t sell the shadow.” This short phrase describes the relationship capitalism has with the environment. The ecological disaster in the Karpasia peninsula can be explained only by the illogical nature of the capitalist system: “profit, more profit, at any cost.” To prevent the disaster in the Karpasia peninsula, we must rally all our forces. We must also intensify our efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. The time that passes without a solution, works against the whole of Cyprus and Cypriots themselves.