President Mustafa Akinci conveyed his condolences to the families of the Greek Cypriot fire fighters who lost their lives in the forest fire in the Troodos Mountains.
A statement issued by Akinci’s office read: “It is with great sadness that I have been following from the very beginning, the destruction and devastation caused by the fires in Troodos. I have also learned about the tragic loss of the two fire fighters. On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot community and myself, I would like to convey heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones, while sharing the grief of the Greek Cypriot community”.
On the same issue, Kibris Postasi reports that the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit, in a written statement, called on all Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties prior to their meeting on Tuesday at the Ledra Palace hotel under the auspices of the Slovakian Embassy, to put the issue of fires on the agenda. He added that although the agenda had already been determined, the fire issue is an emergency and they should discuss what and how the political parties can do in such situation.
Ozyigit further said: “When our common land is being burned, the operations should be done jointly”, adding that the fire in the Troodos Mountains tears their heart out. He also conveyed his condolences to the families of the two Greek Cypriot fire fighters who lost their lives.
Furthermore, the paper reports that Kemal Gulercan, committee member of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), said that they suffered watching this tragedy which began in the Troodos Mountains and still continues. He recalled the great fire on Besparmak Mountain range on 26th June, 1996, which destroyed 9% of the forest. He noted that ecology is mankind’s greatest wealth and called on the leaders to take a step together to develop cooperation and trust between the two communities.
The Famagusta Initiative called on Presidents Akinci and Anastasiades to take the lead, to be the conveyors of a joint effort to reforest the burned out areas of the Troodos Mountain.
In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), sent a message to express its sense of great sadness about the fire and the loss of the two firefighters. It added that it pained them greatly to see part of the island being burned and conveyed its condolences to the families of the fire fighters.
Kibris Postasi, Yeni Duzen