Pafos Live 21 January 2024
Work is immediately resumed in Akamas for the completion of road works that have been temporarily suspended, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Saturday, noting that the issue is on the agenda of the Council of Ministers in February.
Speaking to reporters during the inauguration of projects in the community of Ineia, President Christodoulides announced that he will visit the area again before June together with the competent Ministers of Interior and Agriculture, as well as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, to evaluate the implementation of the projects.
President Christodoulides visited the community on Saturday morning and inaugurated the "Aphrodite" thematic route project, followed by the renovation project of the core of the community and the Ineia-Lara Turtle Exhibition and Educational Center. He was accompanied by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letympiotis and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou.
He thanked the President of the Community Council of Ineia, Yiangos Tsivikos, for the invitation to the area and estimated that an "important job" is being done despite the problems they have to face and the challenges "that we do not see in other areas of Cyprus", in his expression.
"I am here today to support their effort, and as a government we will continue to be supporters of the need to upgrade the region even further," he said.
"Inaugurating three projects today, but also in neighboring communities a while ago, the residents of the areas understand more than anyone else exactly why they live here, the importance of Akamas, its environmental wealth," he said and referred to the projects inaugurated to "upgrade the area even more".
Asked about reports by the president of the community of Ineia that he has not visited the community President for 30 years, President Christodoulides said that his visit is not only a "moral obligation", while he said that similar visits are made to other communities, showing the "priority we give as a State to the need to upgrade the countryside even more".
The project "Aphrodite Thematic Route" in Ineia was funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility – NextGenerationEU and implemented under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan, while the other two projects were funded by national resources. Addressing the inauguration of the three projects, President said that "Akamas is a very important environmental and cultural asset for our country, but also an important part of Europe's natural and cultural heritage."
I listened carefully to your list of demands, he said, saying that some of them he was aware of, and that some of them would be put later. He also referred to the view he expressed in the past, that he considers "wrong the decision taken to separate the communities of Akamas" which, as he said, "should have been together".
"We are now working to implement the reform of local government and in the process we will assess any challenges and any problems," he added.
Referring to local residents, he said they are concerned and interested in safeguarding the environment "more than anyone else".
Regarding the goal of revitalizing and upgrading the countryside, he said that it is a pillar of development with many aspects and extensions "whose importance goes beyond the boundaries of the communities of the region and acquires a national scope", as he said.
He also said that he recognizes the work done by the previous government "so that we can be here today and do the inauguration".
"A practical example of the Government's approach to the issue, among many others, are the measures it has introduced and are being implemented with remarkable results to provide incentives to young couples to acquire housing in rural communities," he said.
He referred to the enrichment and upgrading of the tourist product of the region and said that 40 days ago projects were inaugurated in two other communities, in addition to the three projects inaugurated on Saturday in Ineia.
"We will have to connect all these projects in the region," he said and announced that "we will proceed within the next few months to draw up a specific plan by giving incentives so that all these centers attract even more visitors."
He also announced that in the immediate future, before the start of the summer season, they will proceed with the elaboration of a specific plan, in order to attract more people to the area to visit all the Museums.
"Recognizing the efforts of the Local Authorities and other bodies for the development of our countryside, we support all the actions of the Communities of the Akamas region that enrich, enhance and highlight the environmental and cultural wealth of the region and consequently help the Communities themselves," he said.
For the period 2024-2028, he said that the Government's compensatory measures include a provision for the coverage of operating costs for the community infrastructure of all Akamas Communities by the State.
These infrastructures include Exhibition and Educational Centers, Environmental Observatories and Information Centers on the natural wealth of the area, as well as museums that highlight our folk art and culture, he added, among them the Turtle Educational – Exhibition Center.
He also said that the Government is promoting the implementation of multiple actions for the period 2024-2028, which "will give a significant boost to the economic development of Akamas", both through the implementation of the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park and through specialized support measures for the Akamas Communities.
These measures, among others, concern the subsidy of agricultural land owners based on the area of their plots, the establishment of an Akamas Local Coordination Office, the design and implementation of the basic road network in residential areas and the financing of a number of public utility projects. "To this end, we have decided on a package of 11 measures to support the Akamas Communities, the implementation of which has begun," he said.
He then referred to projects that have recently been completed or are being completed, such as the Akamas Geology and Paleontology Center in Pano Arodes, the Akamas Regional Museum of Rural Life in Drouseia and the Cottage-Industry Handicraft Educational Center.
He pointed out that a month ago, the Council of Ministers took a "difficult, but imposed by public interest" decision for the region, for changes concerning the implementation of the projects of the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park.
"In light of either acts or omissions in relation to its implementation, the Government has decided to re-evaluate the projects and operations of the Akamas National Forest Park within a specific framework and timetable for the start and end of the works, which will not allow further unnecessary delays," he said.
President Christodoulides reiterated the "will and determination of the Government" and himself personally "that the Sustainable Development Plan be implemented in a way that does not alter the philosophy and principles that govern it".
He also expressed his determination "to remove mistakes, omissions and exaggerations that would distort the essence of the Plan and negate its aims and objectives".
At the same time, addressing the authorities and residents of the Akamas Communities, I assure them that the Government is well aware of "the boundaries between the protection of natural heritage and the need for development and exploitation of the area", adding that "within this framework we are moving".
He assured the residents of Ineia that "30 years will not pass for his next visit" and then toured the narrow streets of the community and toured the works.
The president of the community of Ineia, Yiangos Tsivikos, spoke of a "historic" day for Ineia with the visit of President Christodoulides, while he described the three projects as "very important" for the community, saying that the total cost amounted to 5.5 million. euro.
The District Officer of Pafos, Mary Lambrou, made extensive reference to the three projects, noting that in any communities where projects were carried out, expatriates renovate and maintain their homes, while creating new businesses, such as catering and tourist accommodation.
