By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
The Archbishop did not have to take the bulldozer after all, in his condition, to level the antiquities so that he could proceed with his development projects in Geroskipou. The competent state Services relieved him of the trouble and, after modifying the plans, by reducing the storeys and the expanse, he can now legally proceed with the construction of the tourist unit. And the unit will coexist, they say, with the antiquities.
We’ve seen this before. A rudimentary excavation is carried out, without the pickaxe going too deep, just in case a new Kourion or something similar is discovered that will overturn the plans. On top of the first findings, a transparent structure is placed which can be the perfect alibi: “The antiquities, which do not have any significant value – you see them anyway – are exposed to public view.” Except that no one will be able to cross the gardens, the courts, the parking areas, the swimming pools of the unit to go and visit them. They will not even suspect their existence. But they will coexist. An eight-story hotel and history. And to ensure history has even better shade, two 12-story towers will be built on the back lot. Initially, the towers were taller, but after objections from the Department of Civil Aviation, they were lowered so that planes trying to land at Paphos airport will not collide. For the two towers, a town planning permit was issued in derogation by the Council of Ministers on 7/12/2017, just before the presidential elections in February 2018.
And now, the Government (whose President had offered to take an initiative to save the environment of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East), a few months before departing, is preparing to tie up all loose ends. One such loose end was that of Geroskipou. The Environment Department withdrew its objections and the matter was closed. Platres and Akamas are next. In those cases too, the various Departments that had objections – Game and Fauna Service, Water Development – were convinced (and are trying to convince us too) that donkeys can fly. We will repeat a question we asked on June 17: “What is going on in the Civil Service? Are the people there to serve the public interest being blackmailed, are they tired, have they lost their judgement and knowledge?”
Another question is: How is it possible that a man who has built his tomb and awaits his union with the divine, wants, at the same time, to build on every piece of land over which he has authority?
