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It is with great pleasure that I participate in today's event to inaugurate the Regional Museum of Rural Life of Akamas and the Educational Centre for Handicrafts of Ecocrafts of Drusya. I visited the Centre last year with my children who were impressed. These are two unique projects of great historical and cultural importance that, among other things, enhance the tourist and other products of the region, thus contributing to the achievement of our common goal of revitalizing the countryside.
The creation of the Museum, which has been completed from the resources of the Community Council of the community of Drusya, as well as its operation, confirm the will of the residents and the community authorities for a substantial development of the community and the wider region.
The creation of the Museum, which has been completed from the resources of the Community Council of the community of Drusya, as well as its operation, confirms the will of the residents and the community authorities for a substantial development of the community and the wider region. And for this I would like to congratulate you and stress that the State will actively support your efforts and those of other regions. These efforts, and their successful conclusion, are the culmination of all those who have consciously worked for the upgrading of our countryside and contributed in practice to the completion of the projects in the area.
The Government, recognizing the efforts of local stakeholders for the development of our countryside, supports the actions of the communities of the Akamas region that promote and highlight the environmental and cultural wealth of the area and by extension help the communities. For the period 2024 to 2028 part of the operating costs of community infrastructure and museums of all Akama communities will be covered by the state. These infrastructures include Exhibition and Education Centres, Environmental Observatories and Information Centres on the natural wealth of the region, and museums that showcase our folk arts and culture. Among these is, of course, the space we are inaugurating today. The amount of aid to be granted to all the communities, including Drusya, for the operation of the infrastructure amounts to €40,000 per year for each centre.
At the same time, the Government is promoting the implementation of multiple measures and actions for the period 2024 to 2028 that 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 specific support measures for the communities of Akamas. These include subsidies to landowners based on the area of their land parcels, the establishment of an Akama Local Coordination Office to empower, inform and support the local population, the planning and implementation of the main road network in residential areas, the financing of a number of utility projects, etc. To this end, we have decided on 11 measures to support the communities of Akamas which have started to be implemented and are expected to be completed by 2028.
At the same time, other important projects which are being implemented and will contribute significantly to the development of the community are the Arodon - Druseia bypass road and the redevelopment of the traditional core of the community.
The SEA will be granted to the community, to the Community Council, for which the procedures will be proceeded immediately by the Ministry of Finance - the Minister of Interior has informed you about the road - and we will proceed with the industrial zone of Druscia for which we have to do the construction study and for which 250 thousand euros are foreseen, which will be covered by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. And so that we don't just talk, I will send you what I have just mentioned in writing from the Presidency so that we can proceed with their implementation, to move from words to deeds.
I have heard some things that are an anomaly, such as the separation of the communities of Akamas. I think it was wrong and I cannot know the rationale on the basis of which it was done. But the implementation implementation of the Local Government Reform will also lead us to evaluation, and when changes need to be made, we will go ahead and make changes.
It is a very important reform. All reforms should be evaluated, and on the basis of the data we should dare to make changes if needs arise - like the issue of the name, which I don't think is a difficult issue, which may not be changed.
But all major reforms that are made, for example the GESY, the education reform, in the process are evaluated and changes should be made there and where they are needed, and within this framework we should also look at the issues that have been mentioned.
There was a reference to migration. I know from my previous visit to the area. Since the day we took office there has been excellent work being done by the Home Secretary and his colleagues. They have reduced the arrivals in our country by about 50% and if we had not had the latest arrivals from Lebanon the situation would have been much better. Returns have increased by 60%, while at the same time asylum applications are now being processed within three months at the latest. In most cases it is one month, whereas last year at the same time it took nine months, and in previous years it took three or even four years. So we are taking all the steps to ensure that our country is not considered an attractive destination and at the same time we are meeting our international obligations.
Akamas is the natural jewel of Cyprus. Its renowned beauty goes hand in hand with the dynamism, tenacity and hard work of its people, the inhabitants of all the communities in the area - I have been blessed to meet them - who defy the difficulties, and with inexhaustible energy continue to create for a better future. Through this dynamism and your determination, we all set an example and stand by you in any effort to promote our rich cultural and natural heritage and in any effort that promotes the progress and development of our rural areas.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to the President and members of the Droushia Community Council, to express my admiration to Ms. Antonia Theodosiou, former Project Manager of the Akamas Peninsula Management Plan Project,who was responsible for the design of the whole project, and to all those who worked for the creation and operation of the Akamas Regional Museum of Rural Life - Educational Centre for Handicraft Craftsmanship.
This effort should be made in all communities and I will be glad to see you, Mrs. Theodosiou, at the Presidential Office to see this planning for the communities of Cyprus.
(PM/EAth/AF)
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