In his statement issued yesterday (29 January), Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that tests carried out on suspected cases of bird flu in İncirli had identified that the virus was of the H5N1 kind, which could also be passed onto people.

Speaking at a press conference organized at the Prime Ministry last night, the Prime Minister said the test results had arrived from the UK Waybridge Laboratory and the N1 virus was found to be positive. Indicating that In addition to the formed crisis table, measures in the village of İncirli and the 6 surrounding villages had been increased and that the entry and exit of poultry animals into the region was prohibited, the Prime Minister said there was a high possibility that the incident in İncirli stemmed from the migrating birds in the Ahna lake in South Cyprus.

Repeating his call to the Greek Cypriot side for joint cooperation to combat bird flu, Prime Minister Soyer said it was possible that South Cyprus also had cases of bird flu but this was being concealed.

Soyer stressed that the measures taken against bird flu were in line with international standards and measures envisaged by the EU and World Health Organization. The Prime Minister said the N1 virus had not been detected in humans, as well as in other animals that had been destroyed in İncirli, and that the virus was detected in only one chicken and turkey.

Prime Minister Soyer said since South Cyprus was not cooperating with the TRNC on this issue, the measures that should be taken within 10 kilometres around İncirli were insufficient. Soyer once more repeated his call for cooperation to the Greek Cypriot Administration.

Emphasizing that this call had nothing to do with politics, the Prime Minister said since water levels in the Köprü lake in the TRNC was very low migrating birds were not detected here, whereas a significant number of migrating birds were detected in the Ahna lake in South Cyprus. He added that this virus was only carried by migrating and water birds, therefore, birds migrating to the Ahna lake, which is the closest lake to İncirli, had carried this virus to İncirli.

Reiterating that migrating birds didn't carry the Turkish or Greek flag, Prime Minister Soyer stressed the importance of cooperation between the two sides. Criticizing the Greek Cypriot measures imposed on Turkish Cypriots at the Metehan border gate, the Prime Minister said these measures did not prevent poultry animals from flying across the borders.

Meanwhile, he said after meeting with EU officials if further measures were necessary the Turkish Cypriot side would also take these measures.

The Prime Minister said the Turkish Cypriot side would continue to distribute brochures in line with its public awareness campaign throughout the TRNC and especially in İncirli and the surrounding villages.

Prime Minister said he thought the real risk was in the South, because they had not taken the necessary measures and they were still refusing to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot side.

Reminding that the Greek Cypriot side had concealed that the Newcastle virus was detected in the South. Soyer said it was very likely that the Greek Cypriot Administration was concealing the fact that there were also cases of bird flu in the South.

Prime Minister Soyer said as soon cases of bird flu were suspected in the İncirli region the Turkish Cypriot side had immediately shared this information with the people. He added that since the Greek Cypriot side had concealed the Newcastle virus, the possibility of there also being cases of bird flu in South Cyprus was 100%.

Meanwhile, from the first day that international experts had announced that Cyprus was on the route of the migrating birds and under the threat of bird flu, many TRNC authorities, including Prime Minister Soyer and the Minister for Health and Social Aid Esref Vaiz had engaged in awareness campaigns about the issue and called upon the Greek Cypriot Administration to cooperate on this issue.

In a statement issued by the Prime Ministry on 27 January, it was stated that the measures taken against bird flu in South Cyprus were insufficient and no measures had been taken in the Ahna lake in South Cyprus and the surrounding areas. It also highlighted that no incidents of the death of poultry animals had been brought to the attention of public opinion in the South.

During his visit to İncirli on 25 January, the TRNC Minister for Health and Social Aid, Esref Vaiz had said that radical measures had been taken in the TRNC against bird flu and for further measures he had called upon his Greek Cypriot counterpart to cooperate.

Esref Vaiz also reminded that according to the EU harmonization laws and World Health Organization's action plan measures had to be taken up to 10 kilometres in areas detected to have bird flu and that 7 kilometres of the village of İncirli fell within Greek Cypriot borders, but the Turkish Cypriot side didn't know what kind of measures would be taken or have been taken by the Greek Cypriot side. He said bird flu concerned the whole island and without wasting more time cooperation was vital.

Within the framework of measures taken against bird flu in the TRNC, the TRNC Council of Ministers decided to compensate those citizens who have suffered damages as a result.

The Young Businessmen Association (GIAD) warned that the aim of the measures implemented by the Greek Cypriot Administration on Turkish Cypriots crossing over the borders was to destroy the TRNC's tourism sector.

In a written statement issued yesterday (29 January), the GIAD Executive Committee, on reminding that while serious measures were being taken in the world and the TRNC against bird flu, said, the Greek Cypriot Administration, instead of adopting realistic measures, under the pretext of 'Bird Flu Prevention', was implementing illogical procedures on Turkish Cypriots at the borders and these procedures were far beyond its real aim.

Calling upon the Greek Cypriot Administration, GIAD said the Greek Cypriot Administration under the excuse of bird flu but with the aim of destroying tourism, which is the backbone of the TRNC's economy, instead of implementing senseless procedures at the border gates should end its insensitivity on this issue, which could endanger the whole of Cyprus, and take preventive measures against Bird Flu in irrigated regions which are on the route of the migrating birds.

The Spokesman of the US State Department, Sean McCormack, stated that the USA gladly welcomed Turkey's new Cyprus Action Plan, which expressed Turkey's willingness to find a negotiated Cyprus settlement.

McCormack said: "Turkey's proposal conforms with the call made by the UN Secretary-General in 2004 that the only way for the international community to help reunite the island is by easing the isolations imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots".

He said a Cyprus settlement required 'creative thought and constructive dialogue' and that the USA welcomed any proposals that would end the current deadlock and hoped that all the interested sides would be flexible and creative in this process.