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Useful Cyprus Information Cyprus Government Websites Currency Converter Cyprus Property News Limassol Marina CyprusNewsReport.comBritish Expats Face Losing Their Properties In North Cyprus
“New threat to property”; The “Ancient Brits” in despair
Turkish Cypriot midweek newspaper Cyprus Today (22.02.12) publishes on its front page the following interview with Justice Minister Loucas Louca by the paper’s reporter Anil Isik:
“Tougher penalties could be on the way from ‘illegal’ users and owners of former Greek Cypriot properties in north Cyprus.
The Greek Cypriot Government [editor’s note: Government of the Republic of Cyprus] is working closely ‘at ministerial level’ with the Danish Presidency of the European Union to renew laws regarding property left behind in 1974.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca told Cyprus Today the proposed amendments to an existing 2006 law would make it ‘easier to recognize and execute action against people in any part of the EU’.
It is reminiscent of the case brought against Hove couple Linda and David Orams, who risked losing their property in the UK unless they ‘returned’ the land they had bought in Lapta [editor’s note: occupied village of Lapithos] to its original Greek Cypriot owner.
That came from a private prosecution, initially in south Cyprus but then moving to the courts in the UK and Europe, but this builds on an October 2006 law which made it an offence, punishable with up to seven years in jail, for using, buying or selling and developing former Greek Cypriot land in north Cyprus.
Mr Louca said: ‘After the renewal of the regulation, European citizens possessing Greek Cypriot-owned properties illegally might face difficulties and challenges, not only in Cyprus but in any other EU country, like the Oramses.
‘This is not a political but a civil issue. That’s why we are taking action on the issue within the framework of civil issues at EU level’.
He declined to give the exact details of what was being discussed as the revision of the law was still being worked on, but added that he hoped there would be a conclusion on the issue during the Greek Cypriot presidency that begins on July 1.
While the laws could not be enforced within the TRNC, people heading south to shop, go for a day trip or to fly from Larnaca or Paphos could be affected.
Marian Stokes, cofounder of the HomeBuyers’ Pressure Group (HBPG), said many EU citizens living in north Cyprus had already lost out to the TRNC builders and courts.
‘This will mean more misery. More misery, worry and illness for people. How much can you beat somebody before they cave in?’ she asked.
‘When we were discussing the housing problems before setting up the HBPC we said that we would solve those problems and then the Greek Cypriots would come along.
‘In October 2006, when the law was passed, they started searching people for papers at the crossings. It wasn’t very pleasant.’
‘This is when the British Government, as most of the buyers are British, is going to have to come to the rescue. If it doesn’t, the victims will be going back to live on the social security system in the UK, many for the first time in their life. They will be penniless.
‘It’s the ultimate insult.’
Stephen Day, chairman of the British Residents’ Society (BRS), said it was important that people didn’t panic.
He said that Brussels do not recognize the TRNC and admitted itself that EU law, the acquis communautaire, could not be enforced in North Cyprus.
‘It’s something we need to watch’, he said. ‘The Greek Cypriots are using their connections in the European Parliament to verbally stir up the issue’.
Emine Colak, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation said the moves could prove ‘disastrous’.
‘Such a regulation will have an enormous impact on EU citizens in the north. Everyone in the north, TRNC citizens and expats in one way or another has an involvement with former Greek Cypriot properties, she said.”PIO
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