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The Municipality of Larnaca says it was caught off guard after discovering that a routine tree-planting event planned by the Jewish Community of Cyprus was actually being dedicated to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mayor Andreas Vyras told CNA that the municipality had only been informed that the community intended to plant 50 trees as part of its social and environmental outreach. “They never told us this would be an event, and certainly not that it would be held in honor of President Donald Trump,” he said. “We only saw that in the invitation they later sent us.”
According to the invitation, the planting of 48 trees, described as “symbols of life and hope," was being dedicated to Trump for what organizers called his role in securing the release of Israeli hostages and helping broker the ceasefire agreement. The event is scheduled for Sunday, November 23, at 11 a.m. on Ioannis Kakridis Street, near Vergina High School.
But the mayor says the municipality never approved any event linked to a political dedication. “No permission was given for tree planting in honor of the American president,” Vyras said. He added that once the municipality realized the nature of the event, officials contacted the organizers to stress that such information should have been disclosed from the beginning.
The revelation has sparked public reaction, with the municipality receiving numerous calls from residents, some warning that protests may take place during the tree planting.
Vyras explained that the Jewish community had originally sent a letter on October 17 requesting approval to plant 50 trees and asking the municipality to select a suitable location. Larnaca eventually approved a small island outside Vergina High School, “not inside the school grounds, as stated in the invitation,” he noted.
He also said the organizers assured the municipality that no sign or plaque would be installed at the site.
The event is still expected to go ahead on Sunday, though it remains to be seen whether protests will materialize, and whether the dedication will remain low-key or spark further controversy in Larnaca.
The invitation:
