Status of the renaming process for Kemal Ataturk Street in Paphos

The Paphos Municipal Council's decision to rename Kemal Ataturk Street in the Mouttalos district remains in limbo as no further progress has been made since the initial vote. Although the council approved the removal of the current name, no official proposal for a replacement has been formally adopted. The municipality has sought guidance from government ministries regarding the regulatory framework for street renaming, though reports conflict on whether the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the primary contact. A DISY municipal councilor recently proposed naming the street after Michalis Kapetanidis via social media, but this remains an unofficial suggestion. The issue has been a subject of debate since 2021, when previous initiatives were paused due to concerns over the potential impact on the Cyprus peace process. Critics, including Municipal Councilor Andreas Grigoriadis, have called for a more structured, institutional approach to avoid political polarization. Future actions are expected to be contingent upon the establishment of new municipal regulations and a specialized committee to oversee street naming. The street is located in a former Turkish-Cypriot neighborhood, adding significant historical and diplomatic sensitivity to the matter.