Napa mayor calls for president’s help in marina statue dispute

Ayia Napa’s Mayor Yiannis Karousos has sent a letter to President Nicos Anastasiades asking him to intervene over plans to erect two 25-metre high statues on the breakwaters at the Ayia Napa Marina, after the monuments committee denied the municipality’s request.

The letter, which was addressed to the president on October 11, said that the statues would create “a world-wide point of reference, which is in line with the goals and dreams of the Ayia Napa marina and the municipality”.

The statues, the letter added, would be created by sculptor Kostis Georgiou, and would be a great attraction for tourists all year round.

“Unfortunately, the monuments committee has issued a negative response on this issue,” the letter said.

Karousos’ letter added that the rejection of the marina’s proposal will reflect badly on the artists and investments.

“There have been concerns about many well-known sites in the world when they were first proposed, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid at the Louvre, and EuroDisney, but authorities decided to move forward, and the results of those projects are well-known today.”

Karousos added that the marina’s licence from the town planning authority has also not been issued.

The mayor called on the president to take the initiative and approve the proposal for the statues, saying that the municipality has ‘complete faith’ he will settle the issue.

Last year, the mayor said a gilded statue of an angel would be placed in the harbour in 2018.

“We showed him [the artist] all the potential spots like the square, the main roundabout and the cultural park and he decided on the harbour,” Karousos said. “He also changed the plans and the statue will be bigger than originally planned so it is more visible. Instead of being three metres tall now the base is three metres and the statue another five metres.”

The sculpture, one from renowned Russian artist’s Petr Stronski’s famous ‘guardian angels of compassion and peace’, was donated to the municipality by the International Academy of Culture and Art of Russia.

Karousos added that the sculpture is expected to be placed in the harbour in December 2018, and that they are waiting for the artist to complete his work.

 

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