-
.
- Ελληνικά
Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeadis made statements after today's meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Communications and Works, which he attended together with the Director General of the Ministry Mr.
"I would like to thank the Chairman and Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport," said Mr. Vafeadis, "as we had the opportunity today to discuss last week's developments in the port and marina of Larnaca."
"I would like to thank the Chairman and Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport," said Mr. Vafeadis, "as we had the opportunity today to discuss last week's developments in the port and marina of Larnaca. We had the opportunity to update on what has been negotiated and to highlight how important the following two issues are to us: firstly to ensure the next day for all workers. Following the meeting that we had with the workers' representatives, chaired by the Minister of Labour, we have, as you know, reached a good agreement, which ensures the next day. We want this agreement to be implemented as soon as possible, so that they can be reassured and know that their next day will be secure. We are working in this direction and we hope to have substantial results soon."
"The second thing is what will be the next day for the port and Larnaca," the Minister continued. "I want to say that the interest in the next day is at the highest level in the government. The President of the Republic himself, at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, asked to be given a timetable for the implementation of the project, that is, to put it back on track for implementation and completion. I asked the President to give me some time, so that I have the opportunity to consult with the society of Larnaca, with the organized bodies, in order to record all the views on this very important project, to be taken into account in the consultations, meetings and studies that will take place the next day, and thus to find a way to implement it."
"I have made a commitment to the President", said Mr Vafeadis, "that I will come back as soon as possible with a timetable, an action plan for the implementation of this project. So the commitment of the government is to move forward immediately, to implement the project, through the legal procedures and regulations, so that there is no risk of any risk of it being challenged in court. These are the two essential issues. We as a government are proceeding to the first step, which will be this afternoon at the Larnaca meeting with all local stakeholders."
Asked about any involvement of the Ports Authority, Vafeades replied that "we are in the phase of listening and recording all possibilities." The purpose of his meeting today in Larnaca is to listen to ideas in order to be considered in the next steps. "Therefore we conclude that all possibilities are open."
In response to a journalist's clarifying question about the interest on the part of Qatar, the Minister clarified: "For Cyprus there is investment interest. Not only from Qatar, which has clearly expressed its interest in investing in Cyprus in general, not only in this project. And this is because Cyprus' economy lends itself to investment because it is on a very good growth path. So, for us, the investment interest is very important to a very large extent. Because it gives us hope that once we go out to bid, there will be interest from investors who will come to implement the projects that we will specify. So we are putting Qatar's interest in the general interest that there is from other countries and from very large investment funds to invest in Cyprus. That is as far as it goes. No decision has been taken that Qatar will implement it. On the contrary, we are saying that there are laws, there are regulations, there is the legal way to implement a contract and we are committed to follow that."
In response to a reporter's reference to statements made by a representative of the Legal Service regarding the duration of the new procedure, Vafeades was adamant: "I think at the stage we are at it is premature to discuss time," he said. "When we know what the options are, then we will say that each option requires a certain time for implementation and some decisions will be made," he said, adding that in cooperation with the local community, the data and options will be examined before decisions are made."
Asked if it will be an easier process if the option is the Port Authority, Vafeadis said he did not want to comment on the difficulty of the process for the Ministry. "We are interested in what is the right development for the city. That's what we are interested in, as well as getting it implemented quickly. I have told you that for the President it is of paramount importance to get the project back on track quickly. So all of this is important to us, but know that this project is not for us, it is for our children. So we have to do something that is right, it is the right development for Larnaca." What this proper development is, will be the subject of discussion this afternoon in Larnaca, "because it is primarily the people of Larnaca who must have an opinion about Larnaca," the Minister said.
Asked how Qatar's interest was expressed, Vafeades said: "The Emir of Qatar himself stated at the meeting that it is a project he is interested in, as he has expressed interest in many other projects. It is not just about one project."
Responding to a reporter on the timing of final decisions, the minister said it was a bit premature to commit to timescales. "On the President's instructions," he continued, "a working group will be set up in the Ministry to deal only with this project, because the President wants a quick return to a path of implementation. So we will start work immediately."
In conclusion, Mr. Vafeades said that first and foremost timelines and targets will be set and when these are known, then of course the priority will be to inform Larnaca, and then the society of Cyprus, which is concerned and interested in this project. "I believe that this is a project that does not only concern Larnaca", Vafeadis concluded.
(Sap/MS)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
