THE PROPERTY ISSUE DID NOT COME OUT OF NOWHERE BUT IT IS NOT A POLITICAL CONCERN

The Cyprus problem’s greatest pain in the neck, property, is being discussed away from the negotiating table for the first time.

The Greek Cypriot leadership is pursuing a new kind of politics based on property. Their denial of this new kind of politics through statements which suggest that the issue is limited to a legal endeavour only do not seem credible. Christodoulides’ statement that the process is not political and that he cannot interfere with the courts, in my view, is a cunning move.

I do not find this sincere but no counterattack can be developed against this statement because the fact that property is a matter that concerns individuals is as clear as daylight within the context of international law. Once again, we are faced with the fact that property must be assessed according to the ownership structure of 1974, unless it is included in an agreement, or the constitution.

The history of Cyprus is full of examples where Greek Cypriots have made attacks and Turkish Cypriots have had to defend themselves. Property is the most important example of these attacks.

During the presidency of Mehmet Ali Talat, the Human Rights Foundation was established to counter the thousands of cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in response to the Loizidou case and subsequent rulings. However, the legal battle initiated to address constructions on Turkish-owned lands in the south was not continued under Derviş Eroğlu and subsequent administrations, leading us back to square one today.

After a long hiatus, construction on lands that belonged to Greek Cypriots before 1974 came under scrutiny, and Simon Aykut ended up footing the first bill. Foreign real estate agents were also targeted in an effort to stop the purchase of property by foreigners.

The narrowing circle has now begun to enclose Turkish Cypriot real estate agents as well. We have started hearing about those with red notices issued against them, and the number of people anxiously inquiring whether they are being sought with red notices has reached a significant level. Moreover, it is not just contractors and real estate agents but also employees involved in real estate are now afraid to travel to the south, or Europe.

No policy has been developed to address this crisis that has been slowly unfolding for the past year, and no significant form of defense has been put in place. It is clear that no progress can be made with President Tatar’s recent statements and the presence of Christodoulides, who has shown himself to be reluctant to solve the Cyprus issue, starting from the time when he was the minister of foreign affairs.

At this point, if no solution is found to the Cyprus issue, the property crisis will trap Turkish Cypriots to the island—and not only the island but just the north of it—making the dream of a united Cyprus even more distant.

When the legal battles gripping real estate agents reach regular individuals, we will realise how intractable the problem has become, but by then it will be too late.

There is a serious problem at hand, and this problem has overshadowed all the rest of the existing disagreements in the Cyprus issue. Tatar is making a serious mistake. He is unaware of the level of distress he is causing by not taking a break from his daily routine and social engagements, when he should be making good use of every opportunity to raise the issue and seek a solution.

Christodoulides’ policy of postponing discussions on all problems encountered by Turkish Cypriots in the south—stemming from the authority of the Republic of Cyprus—until after a solution is reached while expecting immediate solutions to problems in the north, is moving towards its goal of distancing Turkish Cypriots from the Republic of Cyprus.

When we also consider the new problems that are beginning to emerge at check points on an everyday basis, it is clear that Greek Cypriots will also end up losing out in the long run as a result of these developments.

Every issue must be viewed holistically, and meaningful dialogue must be fostered. Otherwise, we will grow even more distant from one another and become increasingly isolated on this tiny island….

This article was originally published on 28.05.2025

Source: THE PROPERTY ISSUE DID NOT COME OUT OF NOWHERE BUT IT IS NOT A POLITICAL CONCERN