Property sales in occupied Cyprus to be examined,

No restrictions have ever been imposed on the sale of Greek Cypriot property, in the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said here today, fending off criticism from the opposition on the matter.

“The issue of selling Greek Cypriot occupied property to Greek Cypriots is not new. In 2007 such sales have increased and this government, the government of President Demetris Christofias, is the only government which decided with a lot of seriousness to deal with the matter,” he stressed.

Speaking after today’s Cabinet meeting, Stephanou explained that there were no restrictions to lift on the sale by Greek Cypriots to Greek Cypriots of their property in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the country.

Replying to questions, he said property owners have been selling their property to other Greek Cypriots through specific procedures. In 2007, he added, land worth 6.800.000 euro was sold.

Following this, the Interior Ministry is looking into this issue and on Monday a meeting has been convened to discuss its various parameters.

Since last September-October the Interior Minister, Neoklis Sylikiotis, has suspended sales of this kind in order to consider the issue.

The property issue is currently on the agenda of ongoing UN-led talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities, with the first stressing that the owner of the property must have the first say on the future of his property and the second on insisting on compensation or exchange of properties.