Opposition to renaming streets in Paphos' Turkish quarter

The AKEL municipal group in Paphos has expressed strong opposition to ongoing attempts by city council members to rename streets in the Mouttalos district, the city's historical Turkish-Cypriot quarter. The controversy centers specifically on the proposed renaming of Kemal Ataturk Street. AKEL argues that such a move is ill-timed, potentially harmful to the delicate political climate surrounding the Cyprus issue, and morally questionable as it mirrors actions taken by the Turkish-Cypriot side that have been criticized by the Greek-Cypriot leadership.

Key figures from AKEL have highlighted that the district is currently inhabited primarily by Greek-Cypriot refugees displaced by the 1974 Turkish invasion, making the area sensitive. The party has criticized the acting Mayor for rushing the proposal despite the absence of an official position from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was consulted some time ago. AKEL also raised concerns about the political motives behind the initiative, questioning whether those supporting the name changes have effectively accepted the concept of a permanent division of the island. There is no indication of a final decision, as the party continues to demand a clear directive from the Ministry before any further proceedings take place.