Paphos municipal council votes to rename Kemal Ataturk street

The Paphos Municipal Council has approved a motion to rename Kemal Ataturk Street, located in the former Turkish Cypriot neighborhood of Mouttalos. The proposal was introduced by municipal councillor Nina Garaklidou and supported by acting mayor Angelos Onisiforou. Proponents, including the Nikos Kapetanidis Action Association, view the decision as a symbolic act of respect for the victims of the Pontic Greek Genocide. Conversely, municipal councillor Andreas Grigoriadis expressed reservations, arguing that the process bypassed established institutional procedures and questioned the urgency of the matter. Grigoriadis noted that a new, unified municipal naming policy is currently being finalized and that other citizen requests remain pending. Supporters maintain that the name change promotes historical justice and social cohesion in the city. The decision aligns with broader ongoing efforts in Cyprus regarding the remembrance of the Pontic Greek population.