A meeting for the implementation of the evacuation and prohibition of use decree of the "Ermaio" apartment building, located at the intersection of Nikolaou Ellinas and Thermopylae streets in Paphos, is taking place this morning at the offices of the Paphos Municipal Development Authority.
As stated in his statements to CNA by the President of the Paphos Municipal Development Authority, Charalambos Pittokopitis, the building has been deemed dangerous for the safety of the local residents, residents and passing citizens.
Mr. Pittokopitis noted that the Director of Licensing of the Paphos Municipal Development Authority issued an evacuation and prohibition of use decree as of May 6, based on article 15 of the Roads and Buildings Law. As he said, the decree has already been posted on the wall, while it was also published in two newspapers of nationwide circulation.
In parallel, according to the president of the Paphos EOA, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Chief of Police were informed of the development by letters, while the assistance of the Police was also requested for the implementation of the decree.
However, as he added, the Paphos Police Director informed in a letter dated May 19 that, in order for there to be assistance from the Police, the issuance of a court order is considered necessary and not only the existence of the decree of the Director of Licensing.
On the other hand, the legal advisors of the Paphos EOA estimate that a court order is not required and that the already issued decree of the Director of Licensing is sufficient.
With the aim of clarifying the legal framework and deciding on the next steps for the implementation of the decree, it was decided to hold a meeting at the Paphos EOA tomorrow. The Police, the Welfare Office, Legal Advisors and the Mayor of Paphos were invited to the meeting.
Update - By Monday, the scene with the dangerous apartment building in the shopping center of Paphos will be clarified, for which the Police asked the Paphos EOA to secure a court order in order to be able to evacuate it.
As it emerged from today's meeting at the EOA, the legal advisors of the Organization argue that the decree of the Director of Licensing is sufficient and allows the Police to assist in the evacuation and prohibition of use of the apartment building without the need to issue an additional court order.
On the contrary, the representative of the Paphos Police Directorate pointed out that a court order is required and after that, said the President of the Paphos EOA, Charalambos Pittokopitis, within two to three days it will be decided whether a court order is finally required or whether the procedures will proceed only on the basis of the existing administrative decision.
At the same time, a team of the EOA carried out an on-site inspection of the building today, in order to determine the current situation, the number of tenants who still live there, but also whether the repair work has begun by the owners.
Mr. Pittokopitis said that in Paphos there are still two to three apartment buildings that are in a dangerous condition, while eight ETEK civil engineers contracted with the EOA are studying the data for the rest of the buildings that were deemed problematic.
As it emerged from today's meeting at the EOA, the legal advisors of the Organization argue that the decree of the Director of Licensing is sufficient and allows the Police to assist in the evacuation and prohibition of use of the apartment building without the need to issue an additional court order.
On the contrary, the representative of the Paphos Police Directorate pointed out that a court order is required and after that, said the President of the Paphos EOA, Charalambos Pittokopitis, within two to three days it will be decided whether a court order is finally required or whether the procedures will proceed only on the basis of the existing administrative decision.
At the same time, a team of the EOA carried out an on-site inspection of the building today, in order to determine the current situation, the number of tenants who still live there, but also whether the repair work has begun by the owners.
Mr. Pittokopitis said that in Paphos there are still two to three apartment buildings that are in a dangerous condition, while eight ETEK civil engineers contracted with the EOA are studying the data for the rest of the buildings that were deemed problematic.
