Limassol Council rejects creation of Grivas museum

LIMASSOL Municipal Council yesterday rejected a request from the Grivas Digenis Foundation to create a museum and exhibition space on the site of the existing memorial to the EOKA leader on the street that bears his name in Limassol.

The decision was taken after a vote, where the majority of councillors voted against issuing a permit for the museum. Specifically, 13 councillors voted against, seven from AKEL, five from DIKO and one EDEK. Seven DISY councillors and one from EVROKO voted in favour of the application. The Mayor of Limassol Andreas Christou and the Deputy Mayor Yiannos Danielides abstained.

The decision by the majority of the council was deemed controversial as the application meets all town planning requirements that would usually secure a construction licence to any applicant.

“The case cannot be viewed as a simple application that has to do with town planning requirements and parameters only; it also has political parameters and aspects of our history. Beyond its role as a town planning authority, the municipal council is an elected body and must take into consideration the political implications of its decisions,” said Tasos Tsaparellas, AKEL municipal councillor.

AKEL does not approve of any monument in honour of Grivas. “AKEL respects and honours the pure fighters of EOKA 1955-59, irrespective of what opinion we had of the specific struggle. Yet, the application at the specific site cannot be disassociated from the entire work and role of Grivas in the ensuing period of illegality and terrorism. We cannot give our signature for a project that in any way glorifies Georgios Grivas Digenis as that would be inconsistent and incompatible with our values and morals,” Tsaparellas added.

DIKO councillors also voted against the application. “For political and historical reasons our group cannot approve such a development on the specific site, as the name of Grivas is connected not only with the 1955-59 period, but also with the subsequent period that marked the tragic events of 1974,” said Evi Tsolaki, DIKO municipal councillor.

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