“We are particularly saddened whenever a part of our cultural heritage is lost,” said Nicosia Mayor Konstantinos Giorkatzis in a written statement. The Municipality notes that “There was an ex-post information that one of the premises was dangerous, but something that the Municipality service is still investigating and has not been confirmed.”
The written statement of Giorkatzis in detail:
We are especially saddened whenever a part of our cultural heritage is lost.
As the Municipality of Nicosia, we have proceeded with innumerable supports of dangerous buildings at public cost and we have proceeded with the restoration of a large number of facades and buildings.
Unfortunately in this case there was no request for demolition nor did we know of the specific intention.
There was an ex-post information that one of the premises was dangerous, but something that the Municipality service is still investigating and has not been confirmed.
The Municipal Engineer of the Municipality has sent a letter to the Holy Archdiocese stating that the demolition of the listed buildings was done arbitrarily and illegally.
The letter also points out that this action removes the conditions under which the permits for the construction of the Cathedral were issued and the mentioned permits are being questioned.
The Municipal Engineer, taking into account the above and in accordance with the decision of the Municipal Council dated 2-3-95 (decision based on the provisions of article 46 (3) (b) of the Law on Urban Planning and Spatial Planning for “restoration or restoration of traditional illegally altered or demolished ») called on the owners to immediately restore the reported buildings.
