President Tatar: “Our priority should be to plan for the aftermath and rehabilitation of the fire affected area and to produce common-sense based solution policies together with all the stake-holders as soon as possible”
President Tatar: “I would like to reaffirm that I will be pursuing the matter with determination, for the necessary steps to be taken by our State in order to restore the ecological system, which was damaged following the catastrophic fire in the areas of Ardahan, Topçuköy, Mersinlik and Tatlısu.”
President Ersin Tatar has reaffirmed his determination to pursuing the necessary steps that are needed to be taken in order to rehabilitate the forests that were gutted following a wildfire last week.
The President, who led the crisis coordination unit having cancelled his programme and heading to the fire region daily, said in a written statement that it is important to “give priority to planning for the aftermath and to produce common-sense solution policies together with the stake-holders as soon as possible”.
The statement reads:
“It is essential at this point to seek the opinions of experts and to plan and develop the area affected by the fire, on the foundations of scientific studies. Our guide at this point should be our country’s valuable scientists so that we can successfully replenish the forest, the ecology and natural habitat in the region, so that life that survived in the region can thrive once again.
In particular, the steps to be taken to protect the ecological diversity in the region affected by the fire, and the plans to be made by the relevant institutions of our State in order to restore the living population, are of vital importance. We cannot evaluate the present in a correct manner, neither can we construct the future properly without taking lessons and by confronting the past.
Regardless of political views, every individual with a conscience whose heart is full of love for the environment and nature, has been devastated by the fire and the magnitude of this catastrophe. For this reason, it is the primary responsibility of every responsible citizen and politician to take lesson from what has been experienced.
It is necessary to take steps to ensure that the Forestry Department is better prepared for all adverse conditions and has a more active, coordinated and much faster working mechanism. Therefore strengthening the department in terms of personnel and equipment should be our priority. This is a debt to our people and to our children, who are our future.
If required, it is essential to make amendments in law so that the forests are not opened for development, leased, or allocated [to anybody] under any circumstances.
The recent fire disasters and diminishing forest areas in our country dictate that the penal sanction for the exploitation of our forests should be reviewed and the control mechanism should be operated much more efficiently. I would like to emphasise that I will do my utmost to improve and update the policies which primarily envisage the protection of our forests and their continuous operation in accordance with management plans and the development of our forest wealth.
In addition to the necessary measures to reduce disaster risks, especially fire, it is of great importance to raise the awareness of our people about the right behaviour to be applied.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who participated directly or indirectly, in the recent fire tragedy, to those who made donations, who did not spare us their prayers, and in particular to the Minister of Agriculture Dursun Oğuz and his personnel, Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Major General Sezai Öztürk and his personnel, to the Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu and his personnel. I commend and thank all of them for working like a ‘life guard’ tirelessly for many days without food or sleep in order to extinguish the fire. I thank the Director General of Police Ahmet Soyalan and his staff, to the Head of the Civil Defence Organisation Atilla Karaca and his staff, the District Governor of İskele Ertuğrul Toroslu and his staff, the Director of the Forestry Department Cemil Karzaoğlu and his staff, to our firefighters, mayors and the municipalities and their staff; our mukhtars and to members of the public and the private sector who voluntarily participated in firefighting activities. I also thank the Chairman of the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Committee Hüseyin Cahitoğlu and his staff and those who provided fuel, drink, food, etc. to fire extinguishers. Bless you all.
With these feelings and thoughts I would like everyone to know that, as your President, within the framework of the authority given to me by law, I will never hesitate to do my utmost to work with the spirit of common sense and solidarity to heal the wounds of the ecological destruction experienced by all of our people.”
The President, who led the crisis coordination unit having cancelled his programme and heading to the fire region daily, said in a written statement that it is important to “give priority to planning for the aftermath and to produce common-sense solution policies together with the stake-holders as soon as possible”.
The statement reads:
“It is essential at this point to seek the opinions of experts and to plan and develop the area affected by the fire, on the foundations of scientific studies. Our guide at this point should be our country’s valuable scientists so that we can successfully replenish the forest, the ecology and natural habitat in the region, so that life that survived in the region can thrive once again.
In particular, the steps to be taken to protect the ecological diversity in the region affected by the fire, and the plans to be made by the relevant institutions of our State in order to restore the living population, are of vital importance. We cannot evaluate the present in a correct manner, neither can we construct the future properly without taking lessons and by confronting the past.
Regardless of political views, every individual with a conscience whose heart is full of love for the environment and nature, has been devastated by the fire and the magnitude of this catastrophe. For this reason, it is the primary responsibility of every responsible citizen and politician to take lesson from what has been experienced.
It is necessary to take steps to ensure that the Forestry Department is better prepared for all adverse conditions and has a more active, coordinated and much faster working mechanism. Therefore strengthening the department in terms of personnel and equipment should be our priority. This is a debt to our people and to our children, who are our future.
If required, it is essential to make amendments in law so that the forests are not opened for development, leased, or allocated [to anybody] under any circumstances.
The recent fire disasters and diminishing forest areas in our country dictate that the penal sanction for the exploitation of our forests should be reviewed and the control mechanism should be operated much more efficiently. I would like to emphasise that I will do my utmost to improve and update the policies which primarily envisage the protection of our forests and their continuous operation in accordance with management plans and the development of our forest wealth.
In addition to the necessary measures to reduce disaster risks, especially fire, it is of great importance to raise the awareness of our people about the right behaviour to be applied.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who participated directly or indirectly, in the recent fire tragedy, to those who made donations, who did not spare us their prayers, and in particular to the Minister of Agriculture Dursun Oğuz and his personnel, Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Major General Sezai Öztürk and his personnel, to the Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu and his personnel. I commend and thank all of them for working like a ‘life guard’ tirelessly for many days without food or sleep in order to extinguish the fire. I thank the Director General of Police Ahmet Soyalan and his staff, to the Head of the Civil Defence Organisation Atilla Karaca and his staff, the District Governor of İskele Ertuğrul Toroslu and his staff, the Director of the Forestry Department Cemil Karzaoğlu and his staff, to our firefighters, mayors and the municipalities and their staff; our mukhtars and to members of the public and the private sector who voluntarily participated in firefighting activities. I also thank the Chairman of the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Committee Hüseyin Cahitoğlu and his staff and those who provided fuel, drink, food, etc. to fire extinguishers. Bless you all.
With these feelings and thoughts I would like everyone to know that, as your President, within the framework of the authority given to me by law, I will never hesitate to do my utmost to work with the spirit of common sense and solidarity to heal the wounds of the ecological destruction experienced by all of our people.”