Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Friday reaffirmed efforts to revitalise Cyprus’ remote communities, during a visit to Farmakas in the Nicosia district.

“The purpose of these meetings”, Ioannou said, “is to identify and record specific issues that concern the communities and to initiate solutions by the competent services.”

Addressing the revitalisation of mountain communities and questions about repopulating respective areas, the minister expressed his optimism about communities like Gourri, where he said there was great response to housing plans.

“The purpose of the support granted through the housing plans of the Interior Ministry is precisely to encourage young families to settle permanently in the mountainous communities,” he said.

Overall, the minister painted a bright picture for the future of mountain communities, noting that a multitude of projects were underway.

“Every year, several million are invested in projects in the mountainous communities,” he said.