TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

    KUZEY KIBRIS TÜRK CUMHURİYETİ

THE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF MINING AND THE CMC MINE PROBLEM

Leonard A Stone

Dr Leonard A Stone achieved his PhD from the University of Wales in 1991. He has authored two textbooks, Notes Towards A Definition of Politics (1998), and Representations of Turkey – a primer (1998). He has also published numerous articles on Turkey and Eurasia. He is currently researching a book on Central Eurasia. Dr Stone lectures in International Relations at the European University of Lefke. Prior to this appointment, he has lectured in Hungary, Czech Republic, and Singapore, and headed the Department of International Relations at Atılım University, Turkey. Dr Stone is a member of IPSA-affiliated Geopolitics and Local-Global Relations Research Committees. He is also a life-long honorary member of the Environmental Society of Lefke. A Research Profile of Dr Stone is available on the following Web Site: http://myprofile.cos.com/Lentil.html

Investigations on Selected Fishes in the Bay of Güzelyurt in 2000 – 2001

ABSTRACT

Prof. Dr.Işık K. Oray
European University of Lefke
Gemikonağı, T.R.N.C.

University of İstanbul
Faculty of Fisheries
Laleli, İstanbul

The biological investigations in the waters of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were first conducted in the spring of 1977 and in the summer of 1998 by BENLİ et al (1999).

Investigations on:

1. Growth, length and weight relationships of Swordfish (Xiphias gladius L. 1758) in the Bay of Güzelyurt in 2000 – 2001.
2. Studies on the CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) of Swordfish per longlines in Güzelyurt Bay in 2000 – 2001.
3. Studies on growth, length – weight relationships of Bluefintunas (Thunnus tynnus L. 1758) in the waters of TRNC in 2000 – 2001.
4. Studies on growth, length and weight relationships of Atlantic Little Tunny (Euthynnus alleteratus Refinesque, 1810) in the Bay of Güzelyurt in 2000 – 2001.
5. Studies on length – weight relationship of Bogue (Boops boops L. 1758) in Güzelyurt Bay in 2000 – 2001.
6. Investigations on Abudance and Catch Composition of Fish in Güzelyurt Bay in 2000 – 2001.
   

were started recently by the author.

Investigations on the Effects of Cyprus Mining Company (CMC) on marine organisms in the Bay of Güzelyurt are urgently needed.

The results of these investigations for the period of 2000 – 2001 will be published in 2002.

The sea coast of TRNC is 396 km. comprises %50.6 of the total coast line of the Island of Cyprus.

The predicted bio-mass of demersal fishes in the Bays of Gazimagusa is around 500 tons. The evaluations carried on demersal fish stocks in Güzelyurt and Gazimagusa Bays indicate overfishing in those areas. (Benli et al 1999)

In 100 – 600m, the boarfish Capros asper L., 1758 is found very frequently in Cypriot waters. This fish has no economical value being a very important feed for the swordfish. (Simones and Andrade, 1999)

The feed for Bluefin tunas; Chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, Houttuyn, 1780 and mediterranean horse mackerel, Trachurus mediterraneaus (Steindachner, 1863) are found in 20 – 600m in big quantities in North Cypriot waters.

The annual fish production in North Cyprus in 1996 was 450 tons, i.e. 2.5 Kgs / per person / year. (Hoşsucu et al 1998)

In the waters of TRNC, big migratory pelagic fish, namely bluefin, little tunny, bullet tuna, swordfish and greater amberjack are found in sufficient numbers.

If the small fishing boasts of today, mostly between 9 – 12m could be substituted with more bigger and powerful boats, some of these fish could be caught big numbers.

By introducing fishing with purse seines; big and small pelagic fish could also be caught in big numbers.

The most commonly used small long – line boats should be in such a way developed, that they use automatic longlines designed to fish in deeper layers for swordfish and bluefintunas.

Introducing the aquaculture of see bass and see breams in suited areas in offshore cages and encouraging farming of Bluefin tunas in pens, as being practiced in the Mediterranean sea would surely increase the fish production in TRNC waters.

Bearing in mind that the island is surrounded by seawater, a program on sea fisheries at university level in a TRNC – University should immediately be started.

The fisheries sector should be encouraged with low interest credits.

Sufficient cold storage facilities should be introduced. At least three harbours for fishing boots should be built in suitable places in TRNC.

The organization of the fishermen in form of fisheries unions should be accomplished.

After introducing a three-year plan for Effective Fisheries in TRNC; a gain of 12.700.000 US dollars per year does not seem utopic (Oray, 1999).

                                                    References
Benli et al 1999: Kuzey Kibris Deniz alanlarının biyoekolojisi üzerinde bir ön araştırma. Tarım ve köyişleri Bakanlığı Su ürünleri Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü, Bodrum.

Oray, I. K., Günyaktı, Çelik B., 2000: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti ve Balıkçılık, 1. Ulusal deniz Bilimleri Konferansı, Poster Ankara

Simones, P. R., Andrade, S. P. 1995: Feeding Dynamics of Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in Azores Area. ICCAT.SCRS / 99 / 92

Abstract

The results and effects of the open cast mining and refinery operations of the Cyprus Mining Corporation in Lefke, Gemikonagi have been assessed by many scientists. The accumulation of the chemical wastes has lead to enormous land contamination, sea pollution, ground water pollution and air pollution. This environmental problem has been defined by many authorities as the Eastern Mediterranean problem rather than owing it to the island of Cyprus.

Within the countries of the EU, there is no single policy model for dealing with contaminated land, and EU itself has not addressed this particular issue yet. The norm across Europe is that any party causing contamination of a site is obliged to remediate the soil and contaminated sites. Accordingly, most remediation work is carried out by private bodies.

The underlying principles of The Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Union "Environment 2010: Our future, our choice" is to integrate environment into economic and social policies and to increase the responsibility of the stakeholders, citizens and businesses which should take more ownership of efforts to protect the environment. At the beginning of the 21^st century, should this be an approach of any business, then it is a serious question to pose that what should be the role of this mining company in restoration of the site in Lefke.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF MINING USING CYANIDES AND ACIDS

Prof. Dr. Emur Henden, Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry,

35100 Bornova, Izmir.

Mines are wealth of a country beneath the soil and mining adds a lot to a country economy when done properly. However, until nineteen seventies understanding our environment and impact of environmental pollution on life was not enough. Most of the detailed standards on environmental pollution have been introduced in the last 30 year. So, most of the earlier miners did not bother about environmental pollution. We can ,therefore , see several deserted mining area left unprotected causing serious risk for the environment and life. CMC mine remains in Gemikonagi and Karadag regions of Lefke are of the most serious examples of such cases.

Mining when realized by physical means , example; crushing, grinding and water extraction and so on, does not usually increase the risk of chemical pollution significantly. However , when chemicals are introduced at the mining or mine processing process the risk of chemical pollution also increases drastically. In such cases, nowadays, very strict measures are required by the regulations to be taken. Such mining and mine processing plants are better be considered as chemical plants rather than simple mining.

ACIDS AND CYANIDES IN MINING

Acids are used for extraction of metals from minerals like copper as in the CMC case and sodium cyanide is used for the extraction of gold and silver. Because of these extractions processes environmental pollutions with heavy metals and cyanides are usually observed if strict measures are not taken. It is well known that cyanides are of the very fast acting toxic substances known and great care are to be taken when used.

Cyanides may cause water air and soil pollution. Some of the metals are toxic even when enters into body at trace level. They show acute toxicity when taken at relatively larger amounts and chronic effect when taken slowly at smaller amounts. They deposit in the body mainly in liver, kidney and cause liver deformation, renal failure and many other deficiencies. They cause their harm in a very long period and ,therefore, are usually not detected. Some of the metals are even accepted to be carcinogenic.eg., selenium and arsenic. Of these toxic metals lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, antimony, nickel, copper and berillium take more attention. However, some of the metals which are normally accepted as nontoxic may become very toxic when converted to some of its other chemical forms in the environment usually by the effect of some specific bacteria, eg.,inorganic tin compounds are not toxic, but may be converted to tributyltin in the environment and becomes very toxic. Moreover, some metals even when present at very high concentration in soil may not be bioavailable for the plants. Toxic metals in such chemical forms are much less dangerous for the plants and thus animal life compared to their bioavailable forms. Therefore, for soil pollution testing total and bioavailable metal contents are both need be measured.

KARADAG MINING AREA

In this area remains of underground mining shafts, leaching ponds, and contaminated soil piles exist. These wastes may contain various metal sulphides and metal sulphates incluiding that of toxic metals , eg; copper, arsenic, mercury . The soil pH is very low and, therefore, can be defined as hazardous. Leaching of the toxic metals contaminates the water reservoir in the region. Unacceptably high concentrations of aluminium, iron and manganese were reported (1). These type of mine wastes may form natural acid leach by a chemical reaction.

FeS₂ + 3.5 O₂ + H₂ O ® Fe²⁺ + 2SO₄ ^2- + 2H⁺

Similar chemical reaction takes place with copper, lead and other metal sulphides, releasing water or acid leachable iron, copper, lead and other metal salts. Moreover ,the sulphuric acid formed reduces the soil pH and dissolves also other minerals causing toxic metal contamination of soil, water and ,thus plants .

GEMIKONAGI AREA

During the time of mining,1913-1974, raw ore was brought to Gemikonagi mine processing area. At present, unattended and unprotected contaminated wastes are located in this area, including several tailing ponds, waste water clarifiers, row copper ore piles, waste piles, and remains of mine acid processing plant. Another serious waste is the possible cyanide containing yellow waste pile.

Chemical reactions are still going on in some of the waste ponds. Acid generation and reaction of acids with wastes are visible. The solid and liquid wastes are very highly polluted and acidic. Liquid draining to sea has a pH as low as 2 and contained at one time 121- 149 mg/L copper, and its electrical conductivity was very high, 8 mmho/cm (Henden, 1999). These waste water drains from the polluted area are serious sources of sea water and sediment pollution.

The yellow waste piles are known to be the wastes of gold extraction process with cyanide. Gold is usually extracted from powdered minerals using about 800-1000mg/ L sodium cyanide solution at pH 10-11, as gold cyanide complex ion. However, other cyanide complexing metals are also converted to their water soluble cyanide complexes during the gold extraction. These include zinc, nickel, copper, silver, iron, mercury, cobalt..etc., according to the following chemical reactions:

4 Au_(s) + 8 CN_{(- aq)} + O₂ + 2H ₂O Û 4[ Au(CN)_{2 ]} ^- _(aq) + 4OH- _(aq)

Fe(OH)_{2 (s)} + 6CN_(aq)- Û Fe(CN)₆⁴_(aq)- + 2 OH- _(aq)

Cu(OH)_{2 (s)} + 4CN_(aq)- Û Cu(CN)₄²_(aq)- + 2OH- _(aq)

Moreover, because of the high pH used for gold extraction other toxic metals like
arsenic and antimony are also extracted mainly as AsO₄^3- and SbO₄^3- . Inside the yellow waste piles all these highly toxic water soluble metal complex ions may exist at untolerable levels. All these metals exist originally in the minerals ,but they are either stable or blocked within the mineral structure so that they are not dissolved in water under environmental conditions . However, when minerals are treated with cyanide at high pH solutions, all these heavy metals are converted into their water soluble compounds, thus become bioavailable and toxic to life. Free cyanide like sodium cyanide, is not very stable in the environment under unprotected conditions and decompose by the effect of air. However, heavy metal cyanide complexes are much more stable and may exist for years. Since gold in minerals is extracted with very high concentration of cyanide all the natural bacteria in the soil die and, therefore, biodecomposition of cyanides in the wastes do not take place. Taking into consideration of the possible existence of the high concentration of cyanides inside the yellow piles ,these piles should not be destroyed until careful analyses are carried out. If destroyed without taking any care, water pollution with cyanides and toxic metals , and air pollution with very toxic HCN and dicyan,(CN)₂, gases may take place. Therefore, these yellow piles should be analysed for cyanides and if cyanides are present, the waste soil should be treated to destroy cyanides and to stabilize the heavy metals.

                                                         IN SUMMARY

                It is clear that both Karadag and Gemikonagi regions are very heavily                   polluted and need to be cleaned as soon as possible.

1. Dangerous pollution exist in soil, surface and possibly ground water, in sea water and sediments and in air, at least, in the mine processing area and the ponds.
2. The Gemikonagi mine processing area is highly dangerous even to walk inside. This area should be protected and free walking inside should be forbidden.
3. Before beginning reclamation of the area, soil, surface and underground water and plants around and sediments should be analysed in details. Types and concentrations and even, in some cases , chemical species of the toxic metals are to be determined in order to decide the measures to be taken for treatment and reclamation.
4. Economically valuable wastes or mineral remains are to be determined , and if present sent to appropriate plants for use.
5. Waste water should be avoided to reach the sea and fishing in the close area should be forbidden.
6. Further pollution of water in the Water reservoir should be avoided. For these purpose acid drain to the reservoir can be avoided. However, if the present sediments in the reservoir continue to contaminate the water they may be cleaned out from the bottom. Water quality at present is not good enough for irrigation. If necessary, simple chemical measures can be taken to clean and obtain a much better quality water for irrigation if the reservoir protection delays.
7. Methods of treatments of such wastes are well known. However, since the capital required for all these analyses and treatments are very high, supports of international organizations and CMC need to be search for.

Prof. Dr. Adnan AYDIN

Impact On Natural Water Bodies

Pollution Monitoring and Research on Ecological Damages

[ 2] Bilge Alpaslan, M.A.Yükselen,”Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils” MSc Thesis on Env.Eng.,Marmara University, Institute for Graduate Studies in Pure and Applied Sciences, 1999.

In the latter part of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century serious worldwide attention has focused on the environmental issues. It is clear that a new agenda of environmental problems will demand international attention in this century and into the next.

As countries liberalise their economic to allow global companies to bring in capital and technology, they should be aware of the record of companies in the production and disposal of hazardous wastes. The byproducts of economic and technological growth cause cumulative stresses on the physical environment that threaten human health, habitats, and economic well being. The costs and risks of these activities to future generations will be much higher than they are to the world’s current population.

International concern about environmental issues has grown dramatically in recent years. As a result, the environment has started to appear at centre stage of international politics and features as an agenda priority. The principle reason for this as mentioned before may be termed the “globalisation” of environmental concerns.

International dimension of environmentalism has become more prominent because of the identification of genuinely global problems, such as global warming and ozone depletion and only global cooperation can hope to solve these problems. In accordance with the original intentions of the six founding states, the European Union has developed into a supranational government, which is in the process of increasing its membership, deepening its democratic structure and strengthening its power. In the case of environment, European Union is also a unique international organisation because it is the only one “with the power to agree environmental policies binding on its members.

This purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental policies of the European Union and to survey the incompatibility of the environmental development and the economic growth in the light of a case study (CMC). The study consists of two parts: First part has the aim to investigate the existence of some difficulties in the enforcement of the European Union environmental policies and the second part will examine the problems caused by the pollution resulting from CMC’s former mining and refinery activities, and the cooperation’s failure to clean up their installation after abandoning the site in 1974. The concept of sustainable development will be tested within the context of the conditions of the physical, economic and political conditions prevailing in the Area of Lefke.

                                                                            Betül ATASAYAN
                                                                Lefke Çevre ve Tanıtma Derneği
                                                                         Yönetim Kurulu Üyesi

E-mail: atasayan@north-cyprus.net

Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health

The abandoned copper mine was examined in Lefka, in November 1999. The sample of soil, water and plant were collected and analyzed at Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Chemistry. Lefka mine tailing ponds were build primitive technology so they had some environmental risks. The wastes stretched large area around the mine and were contaminated soil, plant and water. Carcinogens were found in waste of the mine. Residents were exposure these contaminants. Incidence of cancer and chronic diseases would increase in the future.

The wasted area was a focus of the environmental and health problems. Tailing ponds should reclaim. Legal and scientific measures should carry out.

The mining area in Lefke-Gemi Konağı, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus where the mining works had been started by CMC in 1913, produced primarily copper at the beginning and later secondary products like copper sulfate (CuSO₄), hydro sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and gold was produced by cyanide leaching method. Unfortunately, these mining processes left the area as a threat for Eastern Mediterranean after the American company left the region.

The area is classified as a noticeable coastal ecosystem but sadly the high amounts of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium and selenium in the environment are surprisingly noticeable in the aspect of human health. When Lefke is examined historically, agriculture reduced and the soil lost its abundance as soon as mining started. Even though the mentioned company had promised re-cultivation and recreation. It didn't keep its promises, so problems increased and expanded because the pollution in water, air and soil effected the biodiversity, water-soil balance was effected, apart from agricultural productions of olive, citrus and carobs, many historical values like Vuni Palace and ruins of Soli encountered the danger of vanishing.

In the study, being conducted by these determinations, necessary implications for the area has been handled to provide a perspective of the present condition and the future of the area. Especially the existing situation is analyzed within the environment and starting from this point all cautions possible were emphasized. The natural and cultural structure of the area was handled, the phases of a study concerning the relations of the mine and the environment were determined and suggestions for the future were made. As a conclusion the study has tried to point out the negative effects of environmental pollution in the area within the concept of East Mediterranean regional pollution problem.

A MEDITERRANEAN PERSPECTIVE

By: Prof. Giuseppe BURGIO

Director of the School of Specialisation in Law and Economics of the European Communities

University of Rome "La Sapienza"

Email burgio@scec.eco.uniroma1.it

SUMMARY: 1. Environmental degradation and environmental sustainability. 2. The European environmental policy. 3. Protection of Mediterranean environment. 4. Environmental Liability.

This paper deals with environmental degradation and the effects of breaking "environmental sustainability" over regions far from the place in which the damage was produced and over future generations as well. Risks related to environmental degradation and hazardous waste management can no more be considered of local interest. They should fall instead under international jurisdiction requiring their dimension global cooperation and partnership between private firms, local and national governments and non-governmental organisations.

The efforts of the European Commission to put forward a more effective action, with a stronger international monitoring, in order to protect natural resources are analysed in detail. The "Sixth Environmental Programme" establishing principles and actions to be undertaken by the EU Member States until 2010 and the Commission's intention to propose measures to protect soil quality and put pressure on the chemical industry for a "non-toxic environment" and better control of hazardous substances, are also presented.

The environmental protection of the Mediterranean area, as part of the global environmental problem, is considered. Conclusive remarks relate to Environmental Liability and the relevance of civil participation in the decision making, in order to prevent environmental risks and search for solutions to eliminate or reduce damages already occurred.

MINING CONTAMINATION: A CASE STUDY FROM NORTHERN CYPRUS – GEMİKONAĞI (XERO) AREA

Hüseyin GÖKÇEKUŞ, Near East University, Lefkoşa, TRNC.

Cyprus is an island where there has been past historical experience of copper mining activities since many decades. During early times, the mining process was performed by old, unefficient techniques by implementing unmodernized equipment. Along with the global advance of technology, the mining methods and equipment were modernized in recent years, resulting in an elevated production capacity. This, in turn, had a positive impact on the Cypriot economy whereas it introduced some environmental and health problems.

In this article, the historical development of the copper mining activities were outlined. In parallel, the health and environmental problems that may result from these mining operations were investigated. To demonstrate the adverse effects of the mining activities on human health and environment, the Gemikonağı reservoir and its nearby areas were investigated in detail in a case study. Water samples, taken from the reservoir and the nearby stream channels, were chemically analyzed to detect different contamination levels.

As a consequence, as we prerpare ourselves to take on for the twenty – fırst century, like many other different contamination sources, the mining areas, with or without current production activity, still pose a vital contamination hazard for both the underground and surface water resources, over the whole island. In addition, the health and environmental problems already caused are pending for extremely rapid effective solutions. But, by the virtue of geographical aspect of the problems, a good viable solution shall only be possible through overall consideration of the whole island.

RECLAMATION OF THE CMC TAILING PONDS

Dr. Okay Camgoz, Faculty Membetr

of the Eastern Mediterranian University

ABSTRACT

Cyprus Mines Corporation (CMC) has operated a copper mine at Lefke region from 1916-1974. During these 58 years of mining and copper concentration plant activities a huge waste material has been accumulated in the tailing ponds at Gemikonagi.

Gemikonagi is a beautiful fishers village in the north coast of Cyprus, and it could have developed into a prosperous tourism town. However the tailing ponds wich are created by the CMC copperconcentration plant activity and copper concentrate spilles, during the loading operations of the boats at the dock side have polluted the coast line and the sea tremmendeously.

at present unattended tailing ponds are creating a terrible view pollution and a big threat to the region in case of errosion and collapsing of the pond walls. Since 1974, most of the water contend of the tailing ponds has been either drained into the sea, pumped to the pond 3 miles away at the mining side or evvaporated away. The rich pyrite contend of the ponds has resulted acidity in the pond water and SO2 contamination of the air. However at present SO2 pollution has been redused and does not effect even the near by citrous plants.

The aim of this paper is to search the ways of reclaiming the area and rehabilitate it. It is advisable to treat the pont contend with lime to eliminate the acidity of the ponds. At the same time, the pond walls should be strengthend and trees should be planted to slow down the erosion. The treated ponds surface then should be covered by a thin layer (5cm.) of fertile soil. Afterwords Rye should be planted to caltivate the soil. This was successfully practiced at the Sudbury Mines tailing ponds of the International Nickel Company (INCO) of Canada.

The implimentation of this suggested reclamation method will help the people of Gemikonagi to gin back the lost land and this dead land will be fertile again.

After industrial revolution, in a world where financial markets continue to “go global”, developing countries need to work towards beçoming good homes for long-term foreign investment.

Just as countries economy can be swamped by global economic forces that it has little power to control or deflect, its environment can be threatened by activities such as mining taking place beyond its borders and its control. In some low income countries the threats may be severe enough to jeopardize further sustainable development. Soil, ground water changes, coast and sea pullotion, for example could effect agriculture forest and fishing forced to villagers leave from their homeland. Such a like Cyprus as it is known surface and underground mining have caused environmental problems due to acidic discharges (commonly referred to as “acid mine drainage”). Here exposed sulfide minerals react with oxygen and water to produce an acidic solution that dissolves metals and contains sulfate. Further reactions may accur resulting in a wide range of water qualitiy characteristics. Additionally, sediment discharge due to inevitable erosion of the denuded soil hinders future land uses and degrades water qualitiy.

An American mining company called Cyprus Mine Cooperation (CMS), which operated copper mining industry in Cyprus betweet the years 1914-1974. According to some expert reports, mine and its waste was left in Lefke region caused very serious environmental problems such as soil, air and water pullution which is usually defined as the resorce of “global environmental problem”. The area has been still faced by environmental pollution with the mine waste left behind alone after the firm leaving the country in 1974. In this sense, it is undestood that CMC had never been concerned their waste pollutions effects on environment on their mine closure procedures after 1974.

Governments acting alone, and even regional organizations cannot respond affectively to this kind of environmental problems. The response must be global. Industrial countries have been thought to be responsible for the most of the thesi kinds existing global environmental problems. In this case, not only Cyprus has been face to face with Cyprus mine problem such as like a local problem, but also all the east Mediterean countries standing near by Cyprus island could be in the same station in this case.

In brief, special attention going to be given in accordance with global environment approach and also European Union’s understanding of environment procedures and acts. And also in this case going to be discussed European Union-Amsterdam Treaty and Copenhagen summit approach among the member countries and the countries going to be member like Cyprus and the countries nearby the European Union.

Human Rights and Environment in the EU Policies

As one can easily see that European Union develops, in which a growing number of decision has been taken on the everyday lives of its citizens. All these decisions should be taking account in democratic society. The peoples of Europe creating an over closer union among them, are resolved to share a peacefull future based on common values. According charter of fundamental Rights of the EU

Article 1 says: Human dignity is invioble. It must be respected and proteceted. Article 2 says: Everyone has the right to life. Also Article 41 consists of right to good anministration. From this respect EU decisions on living of citizens taking account to environmental cases. As Article 37 mentions environmental protection, and also in article 35: states that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all union policies and activities.

-A high level of environmental protection and the improvement of the quality of the environment must be integrated into the policies of the union an ensured in accordance with the principle of sustainable development (European parliament, charter…Dec.2000, p.6-11).

In accordance with the social summit of 1995 in Capenhagen commitments were (EESC.; Apr. 2000, p.1-2).

Commitment 1: We commit ourselves to creating an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that will enable people to achieve social development.

Commitment 3: We commit ourselves to promoting the goal of full employment as a basic priority of our economic and social policies, and to enabling man and woman to attain secure and sustainable livelihoods through freely chosen productive employment and work.

Commitment 9: We commit ourselves to increasing significantly and/or utilising more efficiently the sources allocated to social development in order to achieve the goals of the summit through national action and regional and international cooperation.

20 and 21 September 2000 Economic and Social Committee adopted the fallowing opinion in the topic of over all political objectives (EESC., Sept.2000, p.1-2).

-Economic Objectives; maintaining low-cost raw materials for private and public users, securing long-term resources availability guaranteeing energy supply on a lastin basis, ensuring that everyone has a share in overall rising income and prosperity

-Ecological Objectives; conserving natural resources and protecting the climate, preserving and developing the natural environment safeguarding natural resources in the long term through the use of renewable resources, maintaining biodiversitiy.

-Social Objectives; preserving and developing recreational areas, creating jobs, protecting social and cultural resorces, ensuring equity for a “fair”distribution of income.

The European union participetd actively in the deliberations on the right to the development in various bodies of the United Nations concerned with human rights and development.

According to the UN general assembly; human beign is the central subject of development and should be the active participant and beneficiary of right to development. The right to development is based on the understanding that development is a process targeted at the realisation of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights meeting equitably the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. (EU annual report on human rights 1988-99, p.47)

All over EU Treaty communication from the commission on the global assesment of the European Community program of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development concerns European citizens living conditions and related to human kind social, economic, cultural situations. From all these points, European Community and European Parliament always taking account the citizens believes and understanding of living.

Understanding of living nowadays becomes global. For that most of the European citizens thinking of the environmental problems not only consisted of European community political borders, but the neighbouring and/or the other countries in this world, may creat global environmental problems for themselves. This idea after “Chernobil nuclear desastare” awaked world citizens. The committe was affected from the public opinion of the EU that commission became more influenced with their citizen’s atitudes. Therefore EU Committie of the Regions, June 2000 Brussels, stated that:

-The committee believe, that the European Commission should pay more attention to the threats arising from outside the EU, such as nucleer waste, the dumping of chemical and other weapons and waste water which is polluting rivers and oceans, particularly the Baltic and Mediterrannean.

In a number of earlier opinions the committee called for stimulating a more active role for regonal and local authorities in formulating and implementing environmental policy in the regions and municipalities of the applicant states. The Committee would reiterate this urgent recommendation in the context of the present Global Asesment and with a view to the preparation of the sixth Action Programme. The European Commission should strongly promote cooperation and the exchange of experience and expertise through twinning arrangements between regions and municipalities in the EU and the applicant states.

Cyprus as an applicant should widely stimulate the exchange of information, good practices and experiences in the environmental field with the EU and its institutions.

The world has already seen one genuine environmental success story in the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which brought all countries together to address a common environmental threat. The Montreal Protocol attempts to solve the problem of chlorofluorocarbon emissions, which reduce ozone concentrations in the upper atmosphere. As it has been seen in the 1980s scienti sts realized that allowing these emmissions to continue unchecked would dangerously increase ultraviolet radiation in the higher latitudes, rising rates of skin cancer and cataracts and damaging the environment (The World Bank, 1999-2000 p, 8)

The world faces a number of other pressing environmental problems that threaten the global commons. Perhaps the best known is the climate change, which is associated with increasing emmisions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Others include biodiversing loss, which is occuring at an alarming rate; desertification; the depletion of fish stocks; the spread of persistent organic pollutants.

In global levels environmental policy become one of the greatest social challenges facing the public authorities and all sectors of the economy today. It is also a subject of whom the public is acutely aware, since it is directly affects its welfare and health. May be after a Montreal Protocol and Rio Treaty, which brought all the countries together to address a common environmental threat.

In the early days of building Europe, environmental issues were not a top priority for the public authorities and economic circles.

It was not until the 1970’s, the emergence of environmental concerns triggered moves in this area at Community level. At the July 1972 Paris Summit the Heads of State and Government recognised that in the quality of life, particular attention should be paid to the environment.

Consequently, the signal was given and the first action programme setting out the framework for community environment policy was adopted, covering the period from 1973 to 1976.This was followed by other multiannual programmes of the same type which led to the adoption of a series of directives on protection of natural resources (air and water) noise abatement, nature conservation and waste management.

However, from the single European Act in 1987, the community measures had a legal basis explicitly defining the objectives and guiding principles for action by the European community relating to the environmental protection requirements to become a component of the community’s other policies.

The entry into force of the EU Treaty in November 1993 brought further progress on several fronts. First it added the concept of ‘’ sustainable growth respecting the environment ‘’ to the European Community’s task and wrote the precautionary principle into the article on which environment policy is founded

The Treaty of Amsterdam should resolve these problems and respond to the need to make Community environment policy clearer and more efficient.

The Treaty of Amsterdam seeks to provide stranger guarantees than given by inserting concept of sustainable development plus a new article in the Treaty establishing the European community.

The new article 6 puts at the start of the Treaty the clause calling for environmental protection requirement to be integrated into the definition and implementation of other policies. This was already contained in Article 174. The new article also cites such integration as one means of promoting sustainable development.

This new article must be seen in conjunction with the decleration on environmental impact assessment, annexed to the Final Act of the Intergovernmental Conference, which drafted the Treaty of Amsterdam. In other words Amsterdam Treaty pointed out that sustainable development and taking the environment into account in all policies, should be realized (European Commission, The Amsterdam Treaty, p.42).

In accordance with the Commission of the European Comminities, “2000 Regular Report from the Commission on Cyprus Progress Towards Accession” (This report is excluded North Cyprus-KKTC) “Cyprus continues to fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria. The pre dominant political problem is the continued division of the island, but over the last year important efforts have been made in the search for a political settlement in line with the Accession Partnership”.

Cyprus is a functioning market economy and should be able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. However as regards alignment with the environment acquise, several laws and orders have been adopted, but the emphasis lay on preparatory work. Although more attention has been paid to the allocation of sufficient budgetary and administrative resources to the environmental sector to ensure the implementation of the acquis, given the size of the alignment task in this area, this sector still remains a high priority. (İncludes only south Cyprus)

Cyprus as a Mediterranean country has “mediterranean climate”, is characterised by hot, dry summers, and mild and wetter wintters, with run off from infrequent but often massive rain fall causing soil erosion. However Mediterranean regions of Europe have witnessed rapid changes over the past thirty years, in particular in the last decade, affecting all aspects of society. For a number of countries, accession to the European Union has led to major socio-economic change. These upheavals have disrupted the special relationship between man and environment in these areas with higly specific climate. At the same time, landscape it self has undergone rapid change. As a result, Southern Europe is facing a process desertification, which is evident in the cultivated land, pasture grounds and forests, and in the substantial loss of biological diversity. Paulo Mairota, John Thornes and Nichola Greeson pointed out that vast rural areas are temporarily and peramenently abandoned, urban sprawl is rampant, agriculture is intersifying and water shortage, accentuated by the droughts of the 1980s and 1990s has become the main problem in the terms of resources and environment (5)

In this sense Cyprus is a Mediterranean country not excluded from this typicall Mediterranean climate conditions. For that reason badly influenced agricultural production and biological diversity in accordance with Regular Report of European Commission on Cyprus:

-Over the years the contribution of agriculture has garually fallen to 4.2% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and 9.3% of employment. Due to the fall in agricultural production, which was particularly badly affected by the recent drought, the primary sector declined by almost 7% in 2000. Also in the same report declared that no concrete development in rural development and forestry could be reported in this area since last regular report. Even if this report concerning with the south Cyprus, the same stuation can be seen in North Cyprus as well.

As regards Rural Development and Forestry, Cyprus has already some experiences in these areas also comprising agri-environmental measures. However the necessary contol bodies for the environmental scheme will have to put in place. Furthermore, a code of good agricultural practice needs to be established. (CEC, 2000 Regular…p.49-52)

An American mining company called Cyprus Mine Corporation (CMS), which operated copper mining industry in Cyprus between the years 1914-1974. According to some expert reports (Ümit Erdem, 1999), mine and its waste was left in Lefke region caused very serious environmental problems such as soil, air and water pollution which is usually defined as the resource of “global environmental problem” The areas has been still faced by environmental pollution with the mine waste left behind alone after the firm leaving the country in 1974. In this sense, it is understood that CMC had never been concerned their waste pollutions effects on environment on their mine closure procedures after 1974.

Pollution through erosion and sediment control should be in a significant part of every mining waste management stategy. It means every effort should be made to control the sediment at, or near to, and its source (as opposed to relying on one or more large sediment settling basins opposite and in the major drainage ways). It is more desirable to segragate sedimentladen waters from the rest of the surface flow. However it is understood from expert reports that Cyprus mine Corporation had not been taken available waste management techniques in this area. In accordance with EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) reports to Congress: The report provides in depth information on mining process, the wastes produced an associated health and environmental effects, ways to minimize waste production and the means of treat and dispose of the wastes as well as mine closure procedures and costs.

Several management alternatives such as prevantation and chemical, physical and biological treatment are available to minimize the impact of mine drainage on the environment. In this sense it is understood that CMC had been never taken account in their mine operation these basic rules or they had not concerned their waste pollutions on environment in account on their mine closure procedures after 1974. In this case an example can be given; begining of the 1970s the Court of Lefke punished CMC due to cause of polluting the agricultural cultivated areas. Also according to expertise reports water, soil, air, costs and sea pollution comes from ex CMC mines areas. In this region all these expertise reports say, environmental pollution during the period of 1914 and 1974 responsible firm is the only one private sector CMC. It means environmental pollution with its legal administration and ethic dimensions caused by an American mining company operated copper mining industry in Cyprus in Lefke region between the years 1914-1974.

As it is understood nowadays ex-mining wastes still working polluting water, soil, air, costs and sea, and also it’s wastes produced and associated with health and cultivated effects.

According to the some expert reports mines and its wastes was left in Lefke region caused a very serios problem such as soil, air and water pollution which is usually defined as the resources of ‘’ global environment problem ‘’ .The areas faced by environmental pollution and the mining waste is left and their storage are in the frontiers in KKTC since 1974.

Therefore in this region approximently 7000 people are living and working in cultivated areas under the effects of environmental pollution directly or indirectly in the mean time circus fruit, vegetables corps and sea foods growth in this region are distrubuted to the other regions in KKTC for consumption by the way this means that environmental pollution is also exported to the other regions in Cyprus.

Mining operations in this region has been gone for a long time in this period authrorized politicans were changed who were responsible for copper mining industry, mining business, using poisened materials during the operations, storage of waste and legal-administrative regulations concerning the mine export.

Cyprus was a British Colony during the standating period of mining operations. Between the years 1960-1974 CMC continued its operation according to regulations of Cyprus Republic. İn 1974 Intervention of Turkish Armed Forces to the island under the rights of Guarantee Agreement, Turkish political authorities started to control these mining area, mining plants and waste storage. For this reason environmental pollution in this region should be examined with historical and legal framework

CONCLUSION

An American mining company called Cyprus Mine Coorperation (CMC) which operated copper mining industry in Cyprus between the years 1914-1974 under the rule of different authorities and environmental laws. According to some expertise reports, mine and its waste was left in Lefke region caused very serious environmental problems such as soil, air, water coasts and sea pollution which is usually defined as the resource of “ global environmental problem”. It is also understood that CMC had never been concerned their waste pollution effects on environment on their closure procedures after 1974.

As it is understood nowadays ex-mining wastes still working polluting environment. Governments acting alone, and even regional organizations, can not respond effectively to this kind of environmental problems. The response must be global.

In other case, according to the opinion on the White Paper on environmental liability, (COR, Opinion...., 14-15 June 2000, p.1 and 4) proposed European regime should be comprehensive and help to improve implementation of key environmental principles such as the “polluter pays”. The costs of preventing and restoring environmental damage will be paid by the parties responsible for the damage, rather than being financed by the tax payer. It means that CMC is responsible for this case.

In other sense, the establishment of a European environmental liability regime will accompany the introduction in the common Agricultural Policy of compulsory Agri-Environment schemes, which will play a complementary role in protecting the habitats of the European Union: It believes that the establishment of an effective European environmental liability regime will help to facilitate candidate countries efforts to adopted the EU environmental acquis and help to ensure the protection of biodiversity, landscape, diversity and the environment of Europe as a whole.

In accordance with the environmental policy of EU, Cyprus Governments (North and South acting together) and non-government organizations and other civil agencies have a chance to apply to EU institutions within the several funds cleaning up and restoring the environment which was caused environmental damage by the Cyprus Mines.

REFERENCES

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