Filenews 24 June 2022 - byAngelos Nikolaou
Its vertical disagreement is expressed by the Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation with the amendment of the Regulations on Antiquities, in order to provide the possibility of holding civil marriages in museums and ancient monuments in return for payment of a fee for the concession of use of these spaces. It is noted that this issue was on the agenda of the Plenum on 16/6/2022 and the vote was postponed at the request of the Movement. The president and mp of the Movement, Charalambos Theopemptou, in a letter to the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Communications and Works, Marinos Mousioutas, describes as extremely dangerous the granting of permits for the celebration of civil marriages in ancient monuments.
In the event that it is not possible to prohibit the celebration of civil marriages in ancient monuments and museums, the ecologists' intention is to table an amendment to remove the following areas: w Larnaka Castle (outdoor area) w Limassol Castle (outdoor area) w Pafos Castle w Traditional House at the location Faprika w Agrapavli Kouklia (outdoor area, Medieval Hall).
It is noted that the representatives of the Municipality of Nicosia and the Nicosia Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company (EDAP Nicosia) suggested the amendment of the regulations under discussion, in order to add to the list of designated monuments for the purpose of civil marriages the Famagusta Gate and the "Kasteliotissa" hall.
The representative of the Department of Antiquities, commenting on the above proposal, explained to the committee that both the Famagusta Gate and the "Kasteliotissa" hall are very important archaeological sites, where it was considered that it was not appropriate to perform civil marriages, while she also referred to the negative consequences suffered by the two monuments from the celebration of weddings in the recent past.
In addition, the Movement of Ecologists considers that the power given to the director "to grant the license of use on such terms, conditions or commitments that the director from time to time, at his discretion, considers reasonable or necessary", opens the door for similar developments within the ancient monument and museum.
