End the illegal actions in Akamas!
15 November 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
Following the confirmation by the Audit Office of irregularities and illegal actions during the implementation of the road network within the Akamas National Forest Park, AKEL demands the following:
- Immediate termination of the works being carried out so as not to increase the environmental damage already caused due to the serious violation of the terms of the environmental permit,
- As far as possible, the immediate restoration of the environmental impact,
- Accountability and apportion of responsibility on all those responsible for the serious breaches of the terms of the environmental permit,
- Immediate and long-term measures to address the institutional weaknesses that permitted the serious breaches of the terms that were set by the Environmental Authority.
The Akamas Sustainable Development Plan of the National Forest Park is a public asset and under no circumstances will we allow the illegal actions to continue, for any reason or interest. Just as we will not accept any backtracking on the protection of the entire Akamas Peninsula. If there is a need to revise and improve the existing planning, then this must be done with the further protection of the nature and biodiversity of our country as the main objective.
The Minister responsible has stated that he will not accept any regressions on protection issues. We expect him to do so and not to cover up the violations that have taken place. His statements yesterday are far from reassuring.
The AKAMA issue will be discussed next week in the relevant Parliamentary Committee and we call on the political supervisor to attend the Committee’s session to provide answers.
