Minister of Interior Mr. Nikos Nouris visited the Community of Avdimou, together with the Director General Mr. Kostas Konstantinou and other officials of the Ministry.
The Minister held a meeting with the Head of the Community and members of the Community Council of Avdimou and inspected Turkish Cypriot houses and buildings. Members of the House of Representatives' Committee for Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and Victims were also present.
In statements to journalists, the Interior Minister said that their visit was part of the Interior Ministry's effort to revitalize the countryside.
As is the specific case of Avdimou, he said, the Ministry has all the goodwill and intention, after evaluating similar cases like this one where holistic intervention is required, to help.
"Besides, we have clearly demonstrated this with the generous Housing Schemes we have," he said, adding that the aim is to help communities like Avdimou to revive.
"This on-site autopsy today is for that purpose," the Interior Minister said.
He thanked the members of the relevant committee of the House for their presence and interest and noted that in addition to the inventory of the buildings, a structural adequacy study must be done. He added that the usefulness of many of these outbuildings should be assessed, in cooperation with the Community Council.
Considering that the outbuildings relate to Turkish Cypriot properties, he stated that the policy should also be restructured, and added that the possibility of a holistic intervention in the village will be studied after all the facts have been considered.
He noted that the aim is to create something much better and much more attractive, especially for young people to choose this village and others, for permanent home ownership.
Asked about the Government's planning, the Minister noted that there is the will of the Government, which is also expressed through the Housing Policy of the Ministry of Interior. He informed that the Housing Policy for 2022 will be announced in a few weeks and described it as highly upgraded.
He noted that, as was announced, with the completion of last year's Plans, an assessment has been made and areas for improvement have been identified. "There will be improvement and I believe it will be very generous," he stressed.
He reiterated that "our presence here today is under the prism of the general housing policy" and said that this particular village has been chosen for many different reasons. Within the framework of the possibilities that the state has, the possibilities will be evaluated in order to implement the interventions, he added.
"Planning exists, it is amply demonstrated and we are not here by chance," the Minister stressed.
The mapping has already been done and from then on the implementation will proceed in collaboration with the Local Authority, he noted.
The Minister said that no hasty steps will be taken and these are not small interventions, but interventions worth millions.
"They will have to be studied," he said, adding that "our purpose is precisely gradual, and over time."
"The problems of our countryside are not going to be solved in the next six months, nor in the next five years."
"The problems of our countryside are not going to be solved in the next six months, nor in the next five years. The deforestation of the Cypriot countryside has taken place over the last decades, so patience and planning are needed. And the Government has clearly demonstrated that it has planning," he concluded.
(Eφυs)
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