The AKEL municipal group in the Municipality of Paphos disagrees with the effort by members of the Municipal Council to rename the Turkish streets in the Turkish Cypriot neighborhood of Muttalou.
In a statement, the municipal group reiterates its strong opposition, stating that “the issue at hand is the naming of Kemal Atatürk Street.” We have not yet received the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position on the proposed renaming, even though it was asked to take a stance some time ago.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As the party notes, “the issue is particularly sensitive and must be treated with due seriousness.” Muttalos is the Turkish Cypriot neighborhood of the municipality, which is currently inhabited, for the most part, by Greek Cypriot refugees who were uprooted due to the Turkish invasion.”
“Essentially, the very things for which we rightly accuse the Turkish Cypriot side—the renaming of streets and place names—we are now set to implement ourselves…”
At the same time, he characterizes the discussion as untimely and out of place, given the expected developments in the Cyprus issue and the current momentum.
“Nor do we understand the rush on the part of the Mayor to raise this issue, given that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet taken a position. We emphasize that our concern is a just solution to the Cyprus issue and the reunification of our land and our people. For us, the Cyprus issue is a priority, and we will fight until we succeed. Let those who are proposing this tell us why it is absolutely necessary for us to take this action. Have they perhaps accepted the idea of partition and two states?”
As noted, at tonight’s session they will remain true to their principles “and we will fight for a resolution to the Cyprus issue. History is being written, and it will be unforgiving toward those whose actions, mistakes, and inaction are steering the Cyprus issue in the wrong direction. Those who make proposals or decisions based on populism. Finally, we call on our colleagues on the City Council to stand with us on the right side of history.”
