AKEL supports the struggle of the Environmental Organizations for AKAMA
Statement by Christina Nikolaou, Head of the Environmental Affairs Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
25th May 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
The joint declaration for the protection of the AKAMAS region submitted before us by environmental organizations affiliated to the Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus finds AKEL in agreement.
For years, AKEL has submitted its proposals and vision for the AKAMAS peninsula before the state and society.
Unfortunately, the current government has also demonstrated, as far as AKAMAS is concerned, that private interests take precedence over environmental protection.
We demand a broader overall and comprehensive plan for Akamas. A plan that will include the local communities of the area with projects to highlight the traditional cultural and natural uniqueness and beauty of the communities of this particular area, and not the fragmentation which the Anastasiades-DISY Government is currently promoting.
We therefore support and co-sign the demands for the Declaration of the entire Akamas Peninsula as a National Park, with the removal of arbitrary interventions and the cessation of harmful activities within and/or near the Akamas Peninsula and protected areas, as well as the expropriation of the enclosed private properties within the Akamas National Forest Park, their declaration into state forest land and their inclusion in the Akamas National Forest Park, based on the current legislation, as well as all the other points of the declaration.
We in turn call on all political parties and organizations to support this effort by the organized environmental movement of our country. The protection of AKAMAS is an obligation of all of us.
