A FIVE-MEMBER ministerial committee will deal with all the practical issues deriving from the government’s decision to undertake the cost of rebuilding Artemida village in the Peloponnese, which was razed by the ongoing forest fires in Greece.
The committee, the formation of which was decided during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers meeting, will comprise the Ministers of the Interior, Finance, Justice and Public Order, Communications and Works, and Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment.
Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas said yesterday that the government will proceed immediately to undertake the rebuilding of the village and, “within the next few days we will be able to announce the practical ways of implementing this effort, in cooperation with the Greek government.”
Palmas said that the members of the committee were already in contact with their Greek counterparts and procedures to implement the commitment would begin soon.
The spokesman noted that Artemida is a village of around 110 inhabitants, where about 30 houses and possibly a cultural centre were lost to the flames.
Replying to questions, Palmas explained that works to rebuild Artemida were independent and were not linked to funds gathered during collections for the relief of the victims of the fires.
The community leader of Artemidia expressed his gratitude to Cyprus, saying the Greeks, “are like brothers with the Cypriots.”
George Kossifas, who lost his brother in the tragedy, also reserved special praise for President Tassos Papadopoulos. “Our village will come back to life, I am sure of that,” he stated.
He went on to say that the village has been left with no water or electricity, with everything in the path of the flames destroyed.
“It was so green before and now all you can see is black,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to remain here.”
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni also expressed her gratitude to the help received, saying: “We want to sincerely thank all Cypriots who have stood by our side during these terrible times and who have helped us so warmly.”
DISY yesterday pledged 12,000 euros to Greece with leader Nicos Anastassiades handing a cheque to the Greek Ambassador to Cyprus Demetris Orallis, who said the actions of the Cyprus government, “show the solidarity between the two countries.”
The party also said it will be sending a medical team to Greece, headed up by Eleni Theocharous.
A team of 52 Cypriot fire fighters, who have been in Greece since Monday, will be remaining until tomorrow, just in case fires rekindle.
On their way home, they will pass by Artemida, to lay a wreath where three of their Greek colleagues lost their lives.
So far, donations from Cyprus have reached the five million euro mark, with a collection for food and clothing taking place in Nicosia tomorrow.
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