“The Finance Minister’s decision to cancel the construction of the Cyprus Cultural Palace although the final construction plans are ready raises serious questions”, DISY Vice President and Chairman of the House Education Committee, Nicos Tornaritis stated.

In a written announcement, Mr. Tornaritis wondered “how many millions of euros will burden the Cypriot tax payer in relation to the expenditure of 2006-2009 and will be lost for good and how this decision is in line with the previous Finance Minister’s announcements that the big construction projects will be hastened to boost the construction industry”.

According to Mr. Tornaritis, the Cultural Palace is among the projects co-financed by the EU by 85%.

“Is Cyprus or not exposed to the EU that included this project in the EU structural funds? This decision was backed by AKEL”, he said.

He also wondered “what the government will do now that it appeared as a ‘champion’ in the support of culture and cancels a project that was regarded as a landmark in the cultural infrastructure of the country?”, he concluded.