Machine-translated from the official source document.
PRESS RELEASE
Open Letter from the Mayor of Apokoronas to Armenians Everywhere and to Every Engaged Resident of Apokoronas
Armenon Springs: Together Until Final Justice!
Dear Armenians, dear residents of Apokoronas, wherever you may be,
The positive development regarding the Armenon Springs did not come about by chance — it is the result of a specific, institutional and persistent effort that we, as the Municipal Authority, planned, initiated and served with consistency throughout all these years, as was indeed the demand of the community. And this is precisely what we had repeatedly assured all those who visited the Municipality and asked us for information about the Armenon Springs: the President of the Community of Armenon, Mr. Kalivretakis Stelios, the President of the Cultural Association of Armenon, Mr. Averkakis Giorgos, Mrs. Kalivretaki Dimitra, Mrs. Chatzidaki Chariklia, Mr. Nikitakis Stavros, Mr. Proestakis Konstantinos, Mr. Vasilopoulos Athanasios, and all the people who participated in this effort. The same had been made clear publicly, with press releases, but also in the council chamber of the Municipal Council of Apokoronas and in the hall of the Cultural Association of Armenon: that the Municipality would proceed institutionally, with a plan, documentation and persistence, until the path was opened for the designation of the Armenon Springs as a Historic Site — and that is what we did, together with the support of the local community. The Mayor never turned a deaf ear — from the very first moment he was informed, mobilised and stepped forward, together with the municipal services and the community of Armenon, and continues to do so.
In early April 2022, then-Municipal Councillor of Apokoronas, Eirini Terezaki, and the Community Council of Armenon, immediately informed us of the commencement of construction works on the property adjacent to the Springs. The Municipality mobilised immediately and initiated the prescribed procedures, informing the competent services and proceeding with all necessary actions for the protection of the Springs and access to them. Complaints were submitted to the Building Authority of the Chania Town Planning Department, to the Environment and Water Management Department of the Crete Region, and to the Chania Archaeological Service. At the same time, the Municipality applied to the Courts and proceeded with the filing of interim injunction applications to secure access to the Springs. These actions are documented acts of the Municipal Authority from the very first days the issue arose.
On April 29, 2022, following the Municipality's complaints, the Building Authority conducted an on-site inspection, halted the construction works and imposed the prescribed fines for the constructions. On June 22, 2022, on the initiative of the Municipality, an on-site inspection of the Springs was carried out by a team comprising the Water Directorate of the Decentralised Administration of Crete, the Technical Works Directorate of the Chania Regional Unit, and the Legal Service of the Municipality, in order to examine the situation on the ground and coordinate further actions.
On July 18, 2022, the Municipal Authority sent to the competent Service for Modern Monuments in Heraklion the relevant request, reference number 5772/18.07.22, together with the necessary historical documentation, five months before the Armenon Assembly of December 2022. Indeed, I personally intervened with the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Lina Mendoni, requesting her support and promotion of the process; I owe her thanks for her response and interest. This was followed by a persistent, well-documented effort, with documents, interventions and continuous communication with the competent authorities, until we reached the positive development. I mention all of this not to claim priority — I mention it because history must be written with truths and dates. But this is not the time for disputes and jostling over who did more — it is time to continue all together.
And the truth is simple: For entire decades, why had no one advanced the process for the designation of the Springs as a Historic Site — and in particular those who held institutional positions in the past? But this began only on July 18, 2022, with the document of the Municipal Authority.
And one more thing: in the previous press release of the Municipality we spoke clearly about "the demand of the society of Apokoronas" — that is precisely what we meant, because the Armenon Springs are not the affair of one Mayor, one Municipal Authority, or one group of people; they are the demand and the affair of the entire community. That is why I believe that all of us who truly love this place must set aside whatever divides us and keep only what unites us.
However, I believe that in a matter that concerns the entire community of Apokoronas, we — as Mayor and as Municipal Authority, as well as the President of the Community of Armenon and the President of the Cultural Association of Armenon — should have been invited and should all have had the opportunity to be present and to combine our views. And here I wish to clarify a detail that I consider important, not to create a dispute, but so that there is a complete picture. At the meeting of July 30, 2026, the Mayor participated, following coordination with the Council, in a scheduled video conference. Due to a connection problem, the participation ultimately took place via telephone in open-speaker mode. The Mayor expressed his views and answered the questions put to him. I mention this simply because I believe that all sides and all participations must be presented accurately and without omissions. There is no need for impressions to be created that do not correspond to reality — truth and transparency serve the common effort.
This is how we unite forces: in such a matter there is no room for divisions, there is room only for cooperation, trust and common effort. As for the barbs that, as I have been informed, were directed against the Mayor and the Municipal Authority, I will not dwell on them — particularly since they were made while the Mayor, the Municipal Authority, the President of the Community, and the President of the Cultural Association had not been invited to be present. I will not follow that path; I will not dwell on the barbs nor respond with barbs — we look forward, we look to the goal and we proceed, because the Armenon Springs are far more important than any personal dispute.
As for the petition and the memorandum of the residents: if you look, you will see that the 7th signatory is the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis. From the very first moment I have been a champion of this cause, and for this reason the Mayor is also a co-plaintiff both as a private individual and as Mayor of Apokoronas. Every time I was asked for information, I provided it generously, as is our duty. No one needs to prove their love for the Armenon Springs with words. The actions and the record of each person are there and are known.
The exact same thing happened in the great battles we fought for the water of Apokoronas, for the wind turbines and for the pylons. There too I was challenged, I received barbs, and some tried to create the impression that we would not stand up against major interests — but the reality is there and needs no many words. We are the Municipality that stood against interests, without calculating political cost, personal attacks or temporary losses. And we did so because we believed and believe that our duty is above all else.
As then, so today: some may try to challenge us, but we do not change course. We continue, faithful to our duty, with a clear gaze, a clear conscience, and with the strength that the truth of our actions gives us. We look society in the eyes and have nothing to fear, because we know that time, consistency and actions ultimately vindicate those who remain standing when others choose the easy path. The great battles are won when we are united.
As Mayor, I have learned something over all these years: the promises I make to society I honour with work, persistence and actions. This is how I will continue now — with determination, a plan, a clear goal and with the one and only ally, the society of Apokoronas.
In early September we will invite you all — all of you, without distinctions — because in such a matter there is no room for exclusions, personal strategies or pettiness. There is room only for common effort, dignity and respect towards our history and our society.
And one more thing: there is no need for residents to spend money — especially in these difficult economic times — to prove their support. Support is proved through participation, cooperation and presence. This battle can be fought by all of us together and won by all of us together.
The path is now clear: Historic Site — demarcation and settlement — expropriation — protection and promotion — Historical Museum. This is our goal and we will serve this goal to the end.
That is why I address you today, all of you Armenians, wherever you may be, but also every engaged resident of Apokoronas: Trust the work being done, unite with us — all together we can do it. We have proved this in other great battles of Apokoronas. The Armenon Springs are greater than all of us — they do not belong to us; we have borrowed them from the next generations, and for their sake we will continue with determination.
The first great step has been taken, the path has opened, and in the end I am certain that we will all be vindicated together!! Because when Apokoronas unites, it can achieve great things.
With esteem and absolute faith in this great common effort,
The Mayor of Apokoronas
Charalampos Koukianakis
Published: August 19, 2026, 08:52 AM
PDF Download: Mayor's Letter on the Armenon Springs
