Minister of the Interior Socratis Hasikos said today that the measures taken by the government to discourage Greek Cypriots to resort to the immovable properties commission, set up by Turkey in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, has been reduced dramatically.
“The government`s policies to reduce the number of Greek Cypriots who resort to the immovable properties commission in the occupied areas to sell their properties, have yielded results”, the Minister said.
In statements after a Council of Ministers meeting today, Hasikos said that in 2013 the number of Greek Cypriot applications to the commission was 1.700, while in 2014 their number dropped to 372.
He added that the Cabinet today decided that Greek Cypriots who have properties in the Turkish occupied areas could sell them to other Greek Cypriots without any cost in transfer fees.
This decision, he pointed out, will be sent to the House of Representatives for approval.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU full member state since 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of the island`s territory.
Shortly after the Turkish invasion some 170,000 Greek Cypriots were involuntarily displaced from their habitual homes and properties. Most were expelled by the occupation forces, while others fled to the safety of the government controlled areas, having witnessed the brutality of the occupation forces.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the IPC, which was set up in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, constitutes an effective domestic remedy as far as addressing property claims by Greek Cypriots.
According to the decision of the Court’s Grand Chamber, issued in 2010, Greek Cypriots must first exhaust domestic remedies before resorting to the ECHR in cases regarding violation of their rights by Turkey which, since 1974, occupies 37% of Cyprus’ territory.
