The recent developments in the Orams' Cyprus property legal case have again forced the government to consider possible scenarios and solutions for the Cyprus problem. The highly publicised Orams case now creates precedent and paves the way for Greek Cypriot property owners to seek compensation and demand ownership again of their homes in the occupied areas.
Perhaps the added incentives of needing to find a solution to these many high profile disputes over ownership will result in an expedited solution out of necessity.
If compensation is granted to Greek Cypriots for the prohibited use of their seized properties and they are also granted the right to repossession of their homes, and the same is also applied to Turkish Cypriots, then the most critical and area of the solution may be resolved.
According to Turkish media reports, a Turkish Cyprito residing in the UK made a successful appeal, receiving a 500,000 euros settlement for her area in the Cyprus government controlled areas, at the same time also securing commitment from the government for changes to the way Turkish Cypriot property matters are handled.
Turkish Cypriot -owned land in Cyprus, across the island, in total, amounts to 12.3% with 10.14% of it - the equivalent of 82% - located in free government controlled areas.
The question going forward will be whether or not repossession of property will bring full ownership right to the land, and if they will also be allowed to build any real estate on it. These questions and more are part of a complex set of issues and scenarios which the courts have not yet decided or come to conclusion on.
The only certainty is that the Orams case will create serious economic problems for the Turkish Cypriot construction and real estate industry, and this will not only be due to compensation payouts. Foreigners will wish to sell any illegally purchased properties in the occupied areas, creating further problems for the Turkish Cypriot population as a whole.
None can possibly know how long this process will take. We can only expect that the more Greek Cypriot property owners appeal to the European courts to reclaim their ownership to their land and properties, the faster a solution can be expected and the Cypriot government should be urged to resolve Turkish Cypriot property issues in the free area as soon as possible in order to help the solution along.
