The Director of the Department of Antiquities, Dr Giorgos Georgiou, clarified on Friday that the delays reported at the construction site of the new Cyprus Archaeological Museum concern the erection of the building, not the work of the Antiquities Department. He sought to “correct a misleading impression” created by recent reports, speaking during the first public event held at the renovated Famagusta Gate.
Georgiou said the public was left with the impression after a parliamentary visit to the site that the entire project would now finish at the end of 2027, suggesting potential delays of more than 18 months.
He noted that, based on current information, the contractor has already submitted requests for extensions totalling roughly one and a half years, shifting the building’s delivery from June 2026 to December 2027.
Construction is only one part of the project
Georgiou stressed, however, that the project does not consist solely of the building’s construction. The new museum also includes the archaeological exhibition and the transfer of antiquities.
He explained that the Department of Public Works is responsible for the construction, while the Department of Antiquities is responsible for installing the exhibition and relocating the antiquities. This process cannot begin, he emphasised, until the building is officially handed over.
The department must move roughly 6,000 artefacts destined for display, as well as approximately 250,000 antiquities currently held in the storage rooms of the existing Cyprus Museum.
“No grounds for blaming Antiquities Department”
Regarding responsibility, Georgiou said that as long as the delays in construction are considered justified, there is no reason to “orchestrate a climate of blame” targeting the Department of Antiquities for the overall duration of the project.
He concluded by stressing that the department is making every effort to deliver its part of the project within the agreed timeframe and budget, as soon as the building infrastructure is ready.