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- Ελληνικά
The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr Alexis Vafeadis, met today, Monday, 4 March 2024, with the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, Mr Charalambos Christofina. The meeting discussed the problems faced by mountain communities in their daily life, as well as ways to improve bus services in mountainous areas.
In order to provide faster access to urban centres, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works is working to complete the road network. The creation of new Citizen Centres (CCCs) will make it easier for citizens to go about their daily lives without having to commute to the city. "What I want to assure the Commissioner for Mountain Community Development," said Vafeades, "is that we are by his side and that the coordination he has initiated can only lead to the good of the residents. We also want to assist in this effort."
Asked by a reporter if projects have been initiated for specific communities, Vafeadis said: "We have already stated that the KEPO in the area of Clear is heading towards implementation in 2025. This will help a community that is continually growing. We can say that some of the bus stops will be given priority, in areas where people are gathering to get down to Limassol, and which can gather up to 30 people under adverse weather conditions. So these are being given, following the Commissioner's initiative, a priority. These are projects that are ongoing. Also, the road networks, which we are discussing and will start in 2024, is the road in Platres."
For his part, the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, Mr. Christofinas, after thanking Mr. Vafeadi for the constructive meeting, said that all the actions related to the National Strategy for Troodos have been evaluated in order of priority."
For his part, the Commissioner for the Development of Mountain Communities, Mr. Christofinas, after thanking Mr. Vafeadi for the constructive meeting, said that all the actions related to the National Strategy for Troodos have been evaluated in order of priority. He added: "We have discussed with the Minister and his colleagues in the first phase the issue of connecting the road network for the mountain communities, which is a matter of national priority, as the President of the Republic himself had put it. The second issue is what the Minister said with regard to the operation of the JEPOs, where we fully agreed on the necessity of their existence and they are already on track to be launched. And the third is the creation of bus stations that can connect mountainous Cyprus with the cities, especially with the port of Limassol, in order to increase the tourist product of Troodos."
Asked by a journalist what is the most important challenge facing the mountainous communities, Christofinas replied that the biggest problem is the road network. "As you know," he said, "there is a national strategy to get young people back to the countryside. The government has already announced some very important measures to resettle young people in the countryside. But you understand that in order to do all this, young people need guarantees to be able to return. And the most important thing is the road network, health and education, which are the three pillars of the strategy that the President has set out for mountain communities."
The Commissioner for Mountain Community Development was asked if he sees young people responding to returning to their communities, and he replied that there is interest. He referred to an earlier meeting with the Home Affairs Minister, where it was decided that their programmes would be further improved so that more young people would use them to relocate.
In response to a reporter's comment that rents are too expensive in cities, Christofinas replied that it is a good incentive for young people to return to the countryside, but it is also part of the national strategy. "If we don't have countryside," he said, "we won't be able to move forward. So, this government's priority is to put the countryside on the map in the place it deserves with the best possible incentives for our young people."
(Sap/NG/EP)
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