Government vows to finish Amaranta resolution plans

THE new coalition has vowed to “finish off the job” on a legal measure aimed at putting an end to the decadelong ordeal of buyers on Gary Robb’s unfinished Amaranta Valley estate.

Speaker of Parliament Teberrüken Uluçay told Cyprus Today they would take the final steps on an amendment to citizenship laws which would give ministers power to sell off drug convict Robb’s TRNC assets.

The measure has been in place since March 31 last year, but could not be enforced

without adoption of a new regulation. Former interior minister Mr Uluçay’s move to so do ran into legal difficulties and his successor Kutlu Evren’s efforts to complete a 10-page draft regulation — initially drawn up in 2015 and needing amendment in light of Legal Office views before being put to the Cabinet for approval — were thwarted by last month’s general election.

The legal amendment allows for property owned by a foreign national whose citizenship has been cancelled to be liquated if the former citizen fails to sell and raises no objection within six months.

“The new government will take all essential steps for the conclusion of this legal measure in a bid to end the problems of the homebuyers,” said Mr Uluçay, adding that the issue would now be taken up by new Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars Kadri. Amaranta Buyers’ representatives Eric and Julie Foreman hailed Mr Uluçay’s comments as “excellent news”, commenting: “We have high expectations of new government. It’s their chance to shine and show foreign buyers that they are against corruption and on the side of justice . . . “We look forward to assisting . . . by giving them the details of all known buyers, including payments [made and] solicitors used.”

They also thanked Mr Uluçay and former premier Özkan Yorgancıoğlu for spearheading the amendment to gain “justice for buyers of immovable property cheated by foreign builders”.