Opposition to renaming Kemal Ataturk street in Paphos

The AKEL municipal group in Paphos has expressed strong opposition to ongoing efforts by some town councillors to rename streets in the Moutallos neighbourhood, a Turkish-Cypriot district currently inhabited primarily by Greek-Cypriot refugees. The latest point of contention is a proposal to rename Kemal Ataturk Street.

AKEL describes the initiative as untimely and inappropriate, citing the current mobility regarding the Cyprus issue. The party argues that such actions mirror the practices they criticize the Turkish-Cypriot side for, potentially undermining the official position of the Republic of Cyprus. Furthermore, the municipal group criticized the acting mayor and councillors for their haste, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has failed to provide a formal position on the matter despite being asked to do so some time ago. Some members of the council have questioned whether those promoting the name changes accept the concept of partition or a two-state solution.

The issue remains unresolved as the town council awaits guidance from the government. Critics suggest that changing these historical street names creates a difficult political precedent that complicates broader diplomatic efforts.