Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot administration in the occupied north signed a memorandum of understanding Friday to build...

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot administration in the occupied north signed a memorandum of understanding Friday to build a natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey to Cyprus, a move Turkish officials described as "one of the projects of the century." Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar traveled to the island for the signing and said the pipeline would run from Anamur on Turkey's Mediterranean coast in Mersin province to the Teknecik power station near Kyrenia. The project calls for two parallel pipelines, each 56 centimeters in diameter, designed to run in both directions. Bayraktar said the system would not only carry gas from Turkey to the island but could also route gas from future regional discoveries into Europe. He said the gas would primarily fuel electricity generation and could eventually make the north of the island a net electricity exporter. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz also attended the ceremony and said Turkey views supplying energy to the north as "a strategic priority." He noted that Ankara has already spent more than 8 billion Turkish lira, roughly 149 million euros, on energy infrastructure in northern Cyprus over the past five years. Turkish Cypriot "prime minister" Unal Ustel said the deal "sent a strong message to the eastern Mediterranean," framing it as proof of Turkish Cypriot sovereignty and continued partnership with Ankara. He said the pipeline was built not for the present but for "future generations." Turkey's moves to deepen infrastructure ties in the occupied north come as the Cyprus dispute remains unresolved after more than five decades. The Republic of Cyprus, the EU-recognized government of the island, was not party to the agreement. #Cyprus #Turkey #EasternMediterranean