Paphos, Cyprus. Paphos municipality has put on hold a prior decision to rename Kemal Ataturk street, with reports saying it is seeking guidance from the interior ministry. The street is in the Mouttalos neighborhood, which was inhabited by Turkish Cypriots before the 1974 Turkish invasion.
Renaming decision
The municipal council had previously voted to change the name of the street, which is named after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. The road sign itself is spelled Kemal Atatourk Street.
The municipality has not yet acted on the decision or proposed a new name. Daily Politis reported that the issue has been left on the backburner and has not been formally discussed again since the vote in May.
Ministry response
The municipality has reportedly written to the interior ministry for guidance. The ministry said it had not received such a letter and added that responsibility for naming and renaming streets rests with municipal authorities.
Earlier calls for change
A Disy municipal councilor posted a video on social media calling for the street to be renamed Michalis Kapetanidis, but this was presented as a personal suggestion rather than a formal motion.
The issue dates back to 2021, when municipal councilors from Edek called for the street to be renamed. At the time, then president Nicos Anastasiades contacted the mayor of Paphos and asked him to hold off, saying the move might adversely affect the Cyprus talks process. Later, a Disy municipal councilor formally requested the name change, and the municipality agreed, also deciding not to seek the government’s opinion.
