TRNC WATER SUPPLY PROJECT IN THE CONTEXT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Water Supply Project not only provides a sustainable solution to the water shortage for TRNC exposed to embargo and isolation policies since its establishment in November, 15, 1983, due to Greek hostility, but also offers a strategic trump potential to the Turkish side in the negotiation processes. The Greek Cypriot side has embarked on an effort to discredit this project, which has been successfully completed today. These efforts, supported by certain groups within the TRNC, are clear examples of perception management. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders and experts who played an active role in the project in order to determine the operation of the smear campaigns against the project. It was determined that the basis of these smear campaigns are that prejudices of Greek Cypriots against Turks and ideological obsessions of the anti-Turkishness/Turkey groups within TRNC. Water coming from Turkey provides great benefit to the Turkish Cypriots on the vital and political levels. Therefore, the strategic advantages of the project should be made available as a leverage in the political arena by systematically and concrete response to the smearing efforts.