A Russian-backed multi-million-euro project proposed for Paphos has hit problems after the Antiquities department refused to give it the go-ahead.

A delegation from Moscow-based Quatro Engineering Ltd is currently visiting Paphos to plug plans to ‘upgrade’ the western coast of the town with the concerned government departments of Cyprus.

Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas approves of the scheme, which he believes will be of great benefit for the seaside town and, according to him, a group of Russian businessmen were to visit the Municipality yesterday evening and expected to discuss how to proceed with the proposal.

The discussion comes in the wake of the Antiquities department giving the project a red light and ahead of a meeting this morning with the Minister of the Interior and the Ocean services.
“We will discuss tonight if we proceed with plans in this area,” he said, “or perhaps Quatro may suggest a different area. I think that if we get another negative response in Nicosia, this will have to be the case.”

Quatro Engineering has estimated the Paphos project will cost around €100 million, and will introduce ‘organised beaches’ on the western coastline.

The mayor said Quatro would undertake sea studies and then use stone walls and nets to help create a white sandy beach, extending into the sea.

The new area would stretch from Faros beach to Kefalos beach and entrance would be via a ticket system.

In addition to the new beach, the company plan to construct a small marina and two areas for seaplanes, travelling to and fro from the Greek islands, Egypt, Israel and around Cyprus.

“The Russian company invited me to Moscow last week and presented the project to me,” explained Vergas. “They are interested in renting the land and the sea area for around 50 years and making this massive investment, and providing many services.”

But as the area is government owned, the plans must receive the backing of the appropriate departments.
Vergas said he had had several “meetings on this matter over the last few days and we received the first negative response from Antiquities department. They have a number of concerns over the Russian proposal”.

According to Vergas these include the close proximity of the project to – and likely clash of style with - the Archaeological Park, and that works taking place in the sea risked harm to undiscovered remains in the waters off the west coast of Paphos.

“They also pointed out that much of the area is a protected UNESCO site and maybe a new project like this could cause UNESCO to remove the area from its protection. This is very dangerous for us.”

The mayor went on to stress that “keeping the archaeological park under the protection of UNESCO” was a priority, and nothing would be done to jeopardize that.
He remained optimistic, however, that some way would be found to “ensure the project goes ahead”.

The massive project which covers an area of 33,375 square meters will see not merely a white sandy beach, but also many dedicated green areas created. There will be children’s play areas, including a swimming pool, changing rooms, shower facilities, toilets and five wooden lifeguard towers. There will also be two ‘quay piers’ at opposite ends of the beach for the seaplanes’ use, constructed of ‘module pontoon blocks’, which are easy to disassemble and move. A modern restaurant-bar on two levels, providing ‘Russian-style entertainment’, will boast a temperature-controlled upper terrace and lower-level bar with a dance floor and DJ pit.

And it’s not only Quatro Engineering who have shown an interest in the town.

“I have just signed an agreement with the Russian wedding company Mika Ltd, to have Russian marriages at various places in Paphos such as the castle square, on the beaches, aboard yachts, in museums and parks.”

Responding to detractors of proposed Russian investment in the local economy, who claim some companies have a shady past, Vergas stressed that: “The Mafia and dodgy businessmen are not only in Russia, they are everywhere.

“As a municipality … check on people and companies to see their track record and we have to be sure about them before we move ahead.”

Ultimately, he reasoned: “Why would we close the doors and the windows of opportunity?”