North
Cyprus Properties in Court
Although the Greek Cypriot
court is unable to enforce this judgement in the
TRNC, the case has far reaching implications for
the growing number of British and European buyers
North Cyprus Properties.
Since Cyprus has been
a full member of the European Union on May 1st
2004, the plaintiff, Mr Meletis Apostolides, has
taken his case before the British high courts
to enforce the Cypriot judgment by sequestering
the Orams UK home in Hove, a move which illustrates
the fact that a judgment made in one EU country
may be enforceable in any other country of the
Union.
The fact that this legal
action has now been taken onto British soil has
sent shockwaves through the British expatriate
community in North Cyprus.
Many of these expatriates now reside in the TRNC
permanently, with no ties remaining to the UK.
Depending on the outcome of the current legal
wrangling, it is entirely possible that it is
these individuals who have made their North Cyprus
properties a permanent home who would stand the
most to lose if forced to return the land they
occupy to its original owners.
In light of the current
proceedings, it is interesting to note that the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office recently stiffened
its warning to property buyers that they risk
facing "legal proceedings in the courts of
the Republic of Cyprus, as well as attempts to
enforce judgments from courts in the Republic
of Cyprus elsewhere in the EU, including the UK".
A search for Mediterranean
dream homes at bargain prices in the TRNC invariably
brings with it involvement in one of the most
contentious issues of the international political
arena, as a great many villas and apartments currently
under construction in the TRNC are being built
on land abandoned by some one hundred and sixty
thousand Greek Cypriots during the Turkish invasion
of 1974.
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A
Dispossessed Owners' Opinion
More information on this event can be found by clicking
here to see our Cyprus
history section.
Foreign buyers of homes in the north are seen as intruders seeking to profit
from the losses of the dispossessed Greek Cypriot refugees.
Sadly this view, held by the vast majority of Greek Cypriots, is further widening
a division which has already lasted for well over thirty years.
Meletis Apostolides,
holder of the original title deed to the plot now
occupied by the Orams’ villa was quoted as
saying: "I do not have anything against the
British, Germans or any other nationals coming to
live in Cyprus as long as they don’t do it
as receivers of stolen goods,"
When asked about taking his case before British
Courts, he added: "This
behaviour is insulting to the British who live legitimately
in the free part of the island and to the well-meaning
English people at large. A message must be given
that they cannot do this sort of thing without consequences."
The property in question,
located in the village of Lapithos, a short distance
from the city of Kyrenia, was a lemon grove when
it was abandoned by Mr Apostolides’ family
over thirty years ago.
Since it is not Mr Apostolides intention to profit
from improvements made to the land, he demands it
to be returned to its original condition and another
lemon grove to be planted.
Whatever the outcome, this
case has certainly brought the plight of dispossessed
Greek Cypriots to the attention of the international
community.
As previously stated, the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office has highlighted the potential consequences
related to the purchase of North Cyprus properties.
Furthermore, recent adverse media publicity has
furthermore served to practically bring real estate
sales in the TRNC to a standstill, a situation which
is likely to persist until the situation is resolved.
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