Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun discussed progressing the construction of an undersea electricity cable between the two countries, Ozgurgun told Anadolu Agency in an interview on Tuesday.
Turkey and TRNC signed an energy protocol on Oct. 11 that foresees the construction of an undersea electricity cable link between the two countries.
After his meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, Ozgurgun said that they discussed the steps that needs to be taken in order to develop mutual projects further.
'We discussed the electricity cable link project at the meeting. Previously, we had a link for telecommunications, for water and now is the time for electricity. We hope to have this interconnected electricity system in Northern Cyprus,' Ozgurgun explained.
The collaborative efforts between both sides include Turkey's water supply project launched by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan back in 2011 when he was prime minister to supply fresh water to the island.
Acknowledging that the water project created a very positive outcome on the island, the Turkish Cypriot minister noted that the electricity project is also a very essential project for the island.
The water agreement allows the transfer of fresh water for the next 50 years. The first fresh water from Turkey to TRNC was sent in October, 2015 and has continued unabated since then.
- Turkey and TRNC in full consensus on many issues
Ozgurgun expressed his optimism following the meeting with Erdogan and Yildirim in Ankara.
'I have seen that we have full consensus both on the Cyprus issue and on financial and economic policies, investments and internal matters between Turkey and the TRNC,' Ozgurgun noted.
Reunification talks will take place in Geneva on Jan. 9 to reach a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible followed by a quintet conference on Cyprus on Jan. 12 with the potential participation of the guarantor powers: Turkey, Greece, and the U.K.
'While not seeing a definite statement on the issue, I think Greece will attend the meeting at the level of prime minister. The U.K. might be attending at the level of foreign minister as a guarantor country,' Ozgurgun said, but did not provide details on who will attend from the Turkish side.
'This is at the discretion of Turkey, however, we will be there both as the government and the political parties in TRNC,' he added
Ozgurgun said that northern Cyprus has strategic importance for Turkey given the recent terrorist attacks in the region and the developments in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.
'The northern Cyprus issue is a strategic and national issue,' adding that it is also key to the balance in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Reunification discussions resumed in May 2015, and both sides repeatedly expressed hope that a solution would be found by the end of 2016.
Once a final agreement is reached, it would be put to both communities in a referendum.
A peace deal was approved by Turkish Cypriots in 2004 but rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.
Reporting by Nazli Yuzbasioglu
Writing by Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
ebrusengul@aa.com.tr