Greek Cypriot property sales criticised

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas has said the illegal selling of Greek Cypriot properties in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas sends the message that there is lack of will to solve the Cyprus question.

In statements at the House of Representatives, the Minister said that the supporters of the Annan plan seek self-vindication through the position that if the plan had been accepted by the Greek Cypriots, then one third of the occupied Greek Cypriot properties would have been saved.

Lillikas expressed the belief that no change of the extreme Turkish position on the Cyprus question should be expected during the next months, adding that the position that the Greek Cypriot side must make concessions, with a view to promote a Cyprus settlement, is short-sighted.

Furthermore, he noted that both the EU and Turkey realise that the international and European laws must be restored in the Republic of Cyprus in order for Turkey to be able to join the EU.

“Whoever really believes in a settlement providing for the reunification of Cyprus, in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, must refrain from interfering with Greek Cypriot properties, because the issues of properties and territories will be indispensable important aspects of any settlement of the Cyprus question,” he added, noting that such actions and practices in fact undermine efforts to reach a settlement.

Lillikas sent the message that “we are not going to accept either the erasure of the fundamental human right to property or of the fundamental EU principle for the protection of the right to property or the right for the return of the refugees.”

As regards the negative stance of the Turkish side with regard to the implementation of the July 8 agreement, he said that this agreement was a result of actions and initiatives of the Cypriot government and was reached with the unanimous position of the UN Security Council five permanent members.

He said it was very significant that the international community and the EU support, publicly, the July 8 agreement, adding that “beyond this, the government outlines the issue of properties and of promoting a Cyprus settlement to all of its bilateral contacts, and in the framework of discussions within the EU, and this does not mean that we want to move the Cyprus question from the UN framework to the EU.”

Lillikas said that the natural framework to seek a Cyprus settlement is the UN, noting however that Cyprus’ accession to the EU changes the political environment as well as Turkey’s accession course, and that the acquis communautaire and the EU fundamental principles should be taken into consideration to the settlement of the problem.

Replying to a question, Lillikas said “our effort is through the support of the international community to convince the Turkish government that its policy does not lead to a settlement and does not serve the long-term interests of Turkey, which wants to join the EU.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

In April 2004, the majority of the Greek Cypriot community rejected a solution plan proposed by then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, while the Turkish Cypriot community accepted it, in separate referenda.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.