In response to criticisms from CTP Chairman Tufan Erhürman during the Parliamentary General Assembly, UBP Secretary General and Famagusta MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu addressed the issue. He refuted claims that the government had not taken action regarding the arrests in Southern Cyprus, attributing the situation to the unilateral and negative stance of the Greek Cypriot side, which he accused of repeatedly violating international law.
“We need to reach a consensus on the matter of unjust arrests“, Hasipoğlu asserted, emphasising that these arrests were not the result of flawed policies related to the Cyprus Issue but rather an attempt to hinder economic progress by disrupting the construction sector.
Drawing a parallel to the Orams Case during the term of the Second President Talat, who pursued a federal solution, Hasipoğlu noted, “Regardless of what we discussed at the negotiating table, the Greek side continued to initiate such cases. For them, a political solution is not the priority; weakening the TRNC economy is”.
Hasipoğlu highlighted that he had raised this issue the previous week at the PACE Law and Human Rights Committee, posing questions to Greek Cypriot deputies. “The Greek Cypriot deputies gave a presentation on the effective implementation of ECHR decisions. Since they presented it, everyone should know that the TRNC is complying with ECHR decisions. The Immovable Property Commission has been established, and our law numbered 67/2005 is in place“.
He further questioned the Greek Cypriot deputies and their prominent lawyer, Ahileas Dimitris, about the Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on the effective implementation of European Court decisions while making arrests.
“They couldn’t answer me. The same questions were posed by British deputies at the European Law Committee meeting. The Greek Cypriot administration’s arrests and their disregard for the TMK (Immovable Property Commission) decisions, which the ECHR has recognised as effective domestic law, clearly violate international law. While the ECHR has adopted domestic law through the TMK concerning the property issue in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot Administration, a member of the Council of Europe, should not take measures that restrict people’s freedoms in the north under the pretext of disputed properties.
“As we offer solutions in accordance with international law, the Greek Cypriot Administration is expropriating Turkish Cypriot properties in the south without compensation, renting them out without permission, and restricting their right to disposal. I highlighted this double standard of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus last week in the Law and Human Rights Committee, the most relevant committee for the ECHR, which the main opposition likely overlooked“, Hasipoğlu said.
Hasipoğlu also noted that the PM Üstel’ government had transferred significant funds to the TMK (IPC), with 68 million STG paid in the last month, adding that both the Presidency and the government would continue to pursue necessary initiatives on this issue and remain vocal on relevant platforms.
While Hasipoğlu demanded an investigation, a 49-year-old woman was arrested at Larnaca airport for allegedly promoting the sale of real estate on Greek Cypriot lands in Northern Cyprus. Additionally, German property promoter Martin Josef Rikels was summoned for questioning by police, who later issued an arrest warrant for him. Israeli businessman Simon Mistriel Aykut was also recently arrested, accused of developing real estate worth 43 million euros on Greek Cypriot land near Iskele (Trikomo) and in the Kyrenia district. Aykut will remain in custody until his case is heard in September.
Last month, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar criticised the Republic’s stance towards the ICC, claiming it revealed an intention to exert pressure and intimidate. He urged the Republic to “apply common sense” regarding the issue.
Tatar pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights recognises the International Criminal Court as an effective domestic legal mechanism for assessing property claims in Northern Cyprus by Greek Cypriots, noting its effective functioning since 2005. He labelled the Republic’s referral of the matter to its courts as a “clear violation of international law“.
As of June 3, Greek Cypriots have received £25.4 million (€29.8 million) from the IPC this year, with decisions made on 45 claims, including one worth £11 million (€12.9 million) and four others exceeding £1 million (€1.2 million). Since its inception in 2005, the IPC has awarded compensation exceeding £446.2 million (€523.7 million) and examines claims for compensation, restitution, and land exchange.
