Turkish Cypriot refugee gets his property back

A Turkish Cypriot refugee will become the first person to move back to his home since the Turkish invasion of 1974, after the Republic of Cyprus government withdrew its appeal to the Supreme Court over the case.

In a case which is unlikely to go down well among Greek Cypriots, the Greek Cypriot refugees who have been living in the property and who have not received their property back in northern Cyprus, will now have to move out.

Arif Mustafa, who moved to the Republic of Cyprus controlled areas of Cyprus in order to fulfil the Greek Cypriot conditions for asking for his property back, first won the case in the Supreme Court in September 2004 to be able to move back to his home in Episkopi.

Turkish Cypriot property is handled by the Guardian of Turkish Cypriot Properties, a public body.

However, the judgment was suspended pending an appeal by both the Greek Cypriots living in his home and the Republic of Cyprus govenrment.

However on Monday, the government and the Greek Cypriot refugees withdrew their appeals, fearing apparently that they would lose the case.

The government has offered larger accommodation for the refugees who have to move out.

Mustafa plans to move back to his home immediately.