Cyprus says Lidington statement on property “unfortunate”

The Cyprus government has described as “at least unfortunate” a statement by the British Minister of State responsible for Europe, who compared the usurpation of Turkish occupied Greek Cypriot properties with delays in issuing title deeds to British nationals who buy property in the government controlled areas.
Lidington suggested at a press conference on Tuesday that property related problems faced by British nationals in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus are on an equal par with those that arise in the government controlled areas.
Government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou referred to a Foreign Ministry statement that “the Ministry described Lidington’s statement … as at least unfortunate”.
“Although these issues were not raised during Mr. Lidington’s meetings, the government of Cyprus is making every possible effort to resolve them”, the statement added.
Lidington was asked to comment on the fact that many British citizens buy illegally Greek Cypriot property in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus and are issued with illegal title deeds. The British Minister said that “the problem about title deeds to a property is by no means one confined to the north of the island.''
''This is not something that is a problem for the north of the island only. I have letters from MPs (British) about the property issue in the southern part of Cyprus also,'' he added.