In his address to the 9th Traditional Festival of the Municipality of Sotiras, Mr. Tsiolas said that "with the main reference point being our folk tradition and contemporary artistic creation, the Festival includes music and dance performances as well as interesting exhibitions of gastronomy and Cypriot crafts".
"Through the actions of this initiative, the Municipality of Sotiras aspires to improve the level of cultural life, while upgrading the tourist product in the wider region," he said.
He added that "the efforts of the local authorities to upgrade the area in its entirety and the daily life of the residents are in any case accompanied by the substantial support of the Government, which always stands as a helper and supporter".
Mr. Tsiolas referred to the annual state sponsorship received by the Municipality of Sotiras, amounting to 967 thousand euros and noted that "the Government has granted the Municipality a total amount of 1.2 million euros for the construction and lighting of the Municipal Stadium of Sotiras. In addition, a one-time grant of 400 thousand euros was granted for the improvement of the road network, which was affected by the construction of the Sewerage System, while a Social Services Centre was erected at a cost of 1.730 million euros."
At the same time, "a study for the development of the beach front of the Municipality of Sotiras was completed at a cost of 123.500 thousand euros, the opening of a bypass road in Sotiras at a cost of 800 thousand euros, the opening of a road near the B Primary School of Sotiras at a cost of half a million euros, while a Youth Information Centre of the Youth Organization of Cyprus, at a cost of 30 thousand euros, was opened in the Municipality."
As Mr. Tsiolas "given the fact that the provision of quality services and improvement works becomes a deterrent to the phenomenon of urbanisation, the Government proceeded with the preparation of a study for the redevelopment of the square of the Municipality of Sotiras, as well as a study for the reconstruction of a bicycle path along the road in the coastal area of Agia Thekla."
Furthermore, he added, the first of the four phases of the project to improve the reliability of the drinking water supply system ("Kokkinokremmos" project) for Paralimni, Ayia Napa, Deryneia and Sotira and to meet water supply needs was completed, at a total cost of €23,200,000, with an implementation horizon of 2025.
In his address, Theodosis Tsiolas also referred to the multi-level actions announced by the President of the Republic concerning the Municipality of Sotiras, noting that the improvement of the road Sotiras - Deryneia and the replacement of the asbestos water supply pipeline with a corresponding metal one, costing €15,600,000, are currently being implemented.
In addition, he continued, "the Council of Ministers approved the coverage of 80% of the expenditure required for the implementation of the above works, the relocation/replacement of the existing water supply pipeline amounting to €1 million, the storm water drainage works, outside the boundaries of the urban road project, at a cost of approximately three and a half million euros, the expropriation for the installation of culverts outside the boundaries of the urban road project and the construction of retention ponds, amounting to more than half a million euros'.
The Government, he noted, "operating within the framework of a welfare state, proceeded to complete the 3rd phase of the Separation of Plots for needy families, at a total cost of 260 thousand euros, while road improvements in existing Sotiras Self-Housing Settlements were completed, amounting to 110 thousand euros, as well as the Separation of Plots of Sotiras Self-Housing Settlement, at a total cost of 650 thousand euros".
He also said that "as the Government we welcome and welcome commendable actions such as the Traditional Festival of the Municipality of Sotiras, because they prove in the most obvious way that tradition is the presence of our people through time and ultimately means the choice of good through the centuries. That is why it is our obligation and duty every opportunity to promote it, to protect it, to safeguard it, to preserve it and to integrate it into our everyday life."
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