Cyprus aims to stop sale of Greek Cypriot properties in occupied areas

Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos said that the Government will soon announce a series of measures and actions in order to prevent the sale of Greek Cypriot owned properties in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.

Speaking at a memorial event organised by the occupied town of Trachonas, the Minister called on all refugees not to sell their properties in the occupied areas via the “Immovable Property Commission” (IPC) set up in the occupied Cyprus.

He went on to say that the mass sale of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, weakens our side’s negotiating position for finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, noting that with such actions we cancel out our strongest card in the negotiations, thus the property issue. Referring to the new efforts for the resumption of the bi-communal talks, the Minister said that we cannot afford a new failure, adding that towards this end the Government has reaffirmed its position for a good preparation of the dialogue.

In the past weeks the UN have been holding contacts with the negotiators of the two sides with the aim to reach an agreement on a joint declaration so that the talks can begin. The contacts are still underway.