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- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I participate in tonight's event for the inauguration of one of the biggest projects that took place in the Municipality of Gerion in recent years. For the inauguration of Zodia Park, a park located in the heart of the Geriu housing estate, which has a dual and symbolic role.
Beyond the obvious, which is to provide an oasis of entertainment and gathering for the residents of the area, by its name the Park we are inaugurating refers to our beloved, now occupied Zodia and keeps its memory alive, especially at a time of intense processes that we hope will lead to the resumption of talks.
Possibly this aspect, this decision that even the President of the Zodia Community did not expect, but I asked a little boy here, Anthony, where he is from and he told me from Famagusta. And you can see how the decision to name this park preserves the memory of the children who did not have the opportunity, the children born after the tragic events of 1974, after the brutal Turkish invasion. So, the importance of this decision is not only symbolic for the Zodia community, it is also for the young generation of our country precisely so that we never forget our goals because if we forget our goals we will certainly not claim them, we will certainly not work for the resolution of the Cyprus problem. They provide a valuable breathing space in our daily lives, a place where we can escape from stress and connect with nature. And it's not just about children, it's also about us older people.
As a State, we must actively support such actions. I am aware of the bureaucracy, it is one of the biggest challenges we have to face and I believe that through the reform of local government, the implementation of which is a big challenge for all of us, we will be able to face such challenges.
And I know especially about the Municipality of Geri - and you should be proud in recent years - that it has planned and implemented several important projects that have significantly upgraded Geri and have turned it into a modern municipality with all the amenities.
And I know especially about the Municipality of Geri - and you should be proud in recent years - that it has planned and implemented several important projects that have significantly upgraded Geri and have turned it into a modern municipality with all the amenities. The goal is not whether you need to contact me, the goal is to get work done without the intervention of anybody and that is our goal.
I am aware, and we have already wheeled out actions towards creating the Craft Zone, but I am also aware of the issue of the stadium and the need to build your own stadium.
Recently we had a meeting with the municipalities, which have a significant part of their territory in the buffer zone, the Mayor raised a specific issue that we have already taken forward. On the issue of the Pyroi-Athienou road, which concerns the area of Geriou, we have already evaluated and promoted it and I hope that soon we will be able to announce results in the direction we all want.
At the same time, I cannot fail to mention your decision to name the park after our beloved Zodia, it sends clear messages about our common struggle. I spoke earlier about the impact on the younger generation, using Anthony's example, and I want to assure you that we will never turn away from the effort until the blessed hour of our country's reunification.
You mentioned, Mayor, very aptly the problems, there was a demonstration yesterday in relation to the industrial area about how it affects the quality of life and it does. We should not hide behind words, try to sugarcoat a situation that is not positive for the communities of Gerium, Idalio and Cherio.
I want to tell you that last Tuesday and Wednesday I had two ministerial meetings on this issue. Today there was a new ministerial meeting. I want to tell you that instructions were given that no new permits will be given. I have also called the Environment Service and the competent department of the Ministry of Labour to tighten all the conditions that are set for the operation of such factories, especially with regard to the waste and the danger that it poses.
At the same time, however, I must also make my criticism as President of the Republic of Cyprus, because when you are President it is very easy to blame the previous ones. This is a completely wrong area. We went and made an industrial zone here and then residential zones around it, and today we have to deal with the problems. And the solutions are two. Either you move the residents or you move the industrial zone. You're not going to move the residents, so we have to work to move this particular zone. There is no other solution and I want to be absolutely honest. This was a mistake that was made on the part of the state. That is why in our country there has never been zoning, many times we have used as an excuse the fact that there is occupation and we will wait for the reunification of Cyprus to do zoning, and as a result we have these problems today in Yeri and the neighbouring areas. To have the same problems in the Vasilikos area with twice the number of communities in an environment that creates enough problems, which we need to address through the country's spatial planning, and we will do so immediately.
I want to congratulate you on tonight's event, and rest assured that we will be there to assist you in your efforts to succeed within 2024.
(PM/EP)
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