Arıklı: From where and how we will obtain the energy source is the political will of the government. Do not interfere with this

Erhan Arıklı, Minister of Public Works and Transport, at the BRT ’17. He participated in the ‚Hour‘ program and made a statement on the Energy, Election Law and the Law on Earthquake.

Arıklı said that the energy issue was on the agenda in the Council of Ministers, and it was aimed to hold an extraordinary meeting in the Parliament on Thursday and discuss the Public Procurement Law.

Arıklı said, “Yes, we are in a hurry. Energy consumption will be at its peak in June, July and August. If we work at full capacity at the moment, our production is in the 370s. In summer, energy consumption will reach 400-420s. When there is a power cut in the summer, we are trying to take measures in advance so that the events that have upset the citizens since yesterday do not happen,“ he said.

“WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES”

“If we are going to make an agreement with AKSA, we will urgently say to buy one or two generators so that we can be prepared for the summer. Erhan Arıklı said that if we are not going to agree, we have to think about other alternatives.” He said that they could not explain what the Public Procurement Amendment Bill aimed and the opposition did not want to understand.

“THEY DON’T WANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEIR EARS ARE CLOSED”

Minister Arıklı said, “They do not want to understand what the Draft Public Procurement Law intends because their ears are closed. The conditioned keep on stopping at a point, at that point. We are currently requesting authorization to meet with AKSA. For what reason? According to the contract they signed with AKSA years ago in 2009, it says in that contract that negotiations begin 18 months before. It will be finished a year before. They put that time themselves. What are they saying in a hurry now?“ he said.

“OUR FIRST CONDITION TO AKSA IS TO GET OVER THE ENTSO-E (EUROPEAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OPERATORS NETWORK) PROBLEM”

When asked about the possibility of extending the contract for 3 years, Arıklı said, “Well, we need to talk. This work does not end with just an extension. Our main goal is We urgently need green energy. There are two basic conditions for us to benefit from the sun abundantly. We cannot explain it, they do not understand. First, you have to ensure security of supply. Our goal is to get electricity via cable as soon as possible. We will meet with AKSA. Our concern is not to produce energy with solid fuel. Will you overcome the ENTSO-E (European Transmission System Operators Network) problem, which is our first condition for AKSA, and bring electricity to this country by cable? We will not talk to AKSA when you say no to this. We will consider other alternatives. You have to have the authority to speak and sit at the table,“ he said.

“I ASKED FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE ASSEMBLY”

Minister Arıklı said, “Sıla Usar İncirli and Tufan Erhürman come to the rostrum very often and say that when we quit, we would buy 4 generators. I was one of the first to oppose him. My argument was: Brother, EU will ban these generators in 2030. You know, you are a supporter of the EU, you say EU criteria, or the EU fines Southern Cyprus 85-90 million Euros every year for using these generators and polluting emissions. And you are lobbying for us to buy the generators banned by the EU. For whom were they trying to buy 4 generators for $44 Million? In their time, İsmet Akim had bargained for 5 million dollars. Who would you pocket the $22 million in? At that time, I asked him from the rostrum of the Assembly,“ he said.

“FRIENDS TAKING THE ACTION ARE UNFORGETTABLE”

Arıklı said, “The friends who carried out this action are unfair. We do not harm them.

Kib-Tek will continue. Kib-Tek is the property of this people. Those who work there will continue to work. We’re just trying to provide the clean, cheap energy we need. Kib-Tek will take it again and give it to the people. How I will get my energy source is the political will of the government. Please don’t get involved in this. If there is a problem with Kıb-Tek, then let them talk. Kıb-Tek has 2 billion debts. It owes 1 Billion 200 Million TL to AKSA. We will take 600 million lira from Turkey and pay it. This year, the amount we will pay KIB-TEK since 2022 will be 2 Billion 200 Million Liras. We subsidize it. He said they were never talked about.

“ERHÜRMAN WAS PRIME MINISTER BUT HE DID NOT HIT HIM TO SIGN ANY PROTOCOL”

Erhan Arıklı, Minister of Public Works and Transport, also responded to Erhürman’s criticism of his statements that ‚final touches will be put on the signed protocol‘.

Arıklı said, “Tufan Erhürman served as the Prime Minister, but he was not able to sign any protocol. So he doesn’t know how. The protocols are first discussed over the main lines, where and how much resources will be transferred, they are signed, and then the details are discussed. That’s what we’re doing right now. I also gave an example of the finishing touches that I said in the Parliament yesterday, but he did not understand. He doesn’t want to understand. I don’t know whether to find something and somehow shadow the 9.5 Billion TL that will come from Motherland Turkey in these difficult conditions, to make it meaningless or to create other thoughts in the minds of citizens by putting question marks,“ he said.

“ELECTION LAW WILL BE ADDRESSED BY ESTABLISHING AN AD-HOC COMMITTEE”

Upon a question, Minister Arıklı said that the government’s next step is to urgently consider the Election Law.

Arıklı said, “According to the constitution, there is a by-election in June. Therefore, we will discuss the Election Law very urgently by establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee. It is in the government program and in the protocol. My proposal is to narrow down the regions. Our friend, who went for a deputy instead of making elections throughout the country, was a deputy from Nicosia. Let’s make a choice in the Nicosia region. So let’s squeeze it into one area. Maybe in the meantime, it can be reduced to 3 from 6 constituencies. We discussed this issue with the 3 Chairpersons. We decided to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee if there is an environment of reconciliation, either among ourselves or with the opposition. In the next few days, the Prime Minister will bring it to the agenda,“ he said.

“WE SAY IT IS USEFUL TO SIGN THE LAW ON THE EARTHQUAKE ASAP. WE SAID THAT THE EXTENSION DOESN’T MEAN”

When asked why the law containing the salary cuts related to the earthquake was not signed by the President, Minister Arıklı said, “There was a small problem there. Caused by misunderstanding. It’s a technical error. It’s about the deduction from bank interest rates. Mr. President asked us about it as well. To see if there is something missing. Mr. President, we said that there is no point in prolonging this too much after this hour, it would be very beneficial for you to sign it as soon as possible.

BRT