Turkey helping to prevent oil slick reaching Cyprus

Turkey has revealed that it is helping to prevent an oil slick from reaching Cyprus, Anadolu has reported. The slick in the Eastern Mediterranean started with a leak last week from a power plant in the Syrian town of Baniyas.

According to Turkish vice president Fuat Oktay, Ankara is “mobilising every means available” so that the oil spill doesn’t turn into an environmental disaster. “We are in contact with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar and the TRNC authorities,” he explained. “The Turkish Embassy is monitoring the matter closely.”

Oktay pointed out that relevant agencies have been alerted and are following the issue closely. The Turkish Coastguard’s air and sea units are monitoring the slick and its threat level. The Ministries of Transport and Infrastructure, and Environment and Urbanisation are taking action at sea and on the Karpas coast of Cyprus.

“The progress of the oil leaking from Syria towards our island is being followed closely in cooperation with the homeland, Turkey,” added Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Ersan Saner. “No one should doubt that whatever is necessary will be done to prevent our country from being harmed by this spill.”

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