Evkaf hopes for British bases land lease boon
THE development of non-military land on the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Cyprus could create a boon for the TRNC.
Thousands of dönüms of land on the bases, which up until now have only been allowed to be used for agricultural purposes, belong to Evkaf, the charitable foundation set up by the Ottomans after they conquered Cyprus almost 450 years ago.
Evkaf-owned land, which includes prime plots by the sea, could generate large sums of money for the non-profit
organisation if developed, which in turn can be used to fund projects in North Cyprus.
Evkaf has already, this year, donated eight million TL to cash-strapped government departments to build a new school in İskele, and a further 26 million TL to the Health Ministry for a new state hospital in Girne. The charity also regularly helps those in need.
Evkaf chief Prof Dr İbrahim Benter initially objected to a joint announcement made by the British and Greek Cypriot governments in June on the “regulation of development” in the SBAs, describing it as an “unlawful intervention” on their property rights.
A UK government statement at the time said that the deal with the Greek Cypriot administration “shows our collective commitment to securing and promoting the prosperity of the residents and communities living in the SBAs, while ensuring that the bases will continue to function in accordance with the relevant provisions of the [1960 Cyprus] Treaty of Establishment”.
Prof Benter later received a letter, seen by Cyprus Today, from Major-General Rob Thomson, commander of the British Forces in Cyprus and Administrator of the SBAs of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, stating that “Turkish Cypriot-owned land is safeguarded” and that “any such land which falls within designated development areas will be able to be developed by the owner, subject to all the necessary approvals”.
He added that the British High Commissioner, Stephen Lillie, had also “covered all these issues” in an interview with a Turkish-language newspaper.
Speaking exclusively to Cyprus Today at the Evkaf headquarters in Lefkoşa, in his first ever interview in English, Prof Benter said he was “happy” to receive the letter from MajorGeneral Thomson.
“There are Evkaf properties in the bases. We have all the title deeds, proving that those properties belong to Evkaf,” he said.
“We would like to use those properties for non-military projects, development and investments.
“These properties should not be given to anyone other than Evkaf. It would be illegal to give Evkaf properties to others, whoever they may be.
“The British authorities in [the SBAs] wrote back to us saying that all the Turkish properties, properties owned by Turks and Evkaf, will not be given to anyone without the permission of the Turkish owners or Evkaf.
“So we were happy to receive such a note because the note means that the British administration, officially, agrees not give our properties to others.”
Prof Benter said his organisation is now in the process of preparing an “analysis” of Evkaf properties in the SBAs to ascertain the potential lease value of land and buildings, which should be completed within a month.
“We’re trying to find out what the situation is on our properties there — which buildings are there and who is using them,” he said.
“We are investigating such information. The next step would be that we again contact the British authorities and ask them to work with us, based on their rules and regulations, to begin using our properties and possibly investing, developing those properties.”
While Prof Benter declined to be drawn on any estimates of the rent revenue that could be generated from Evkaf-owned land and buildings in the SBAs, he said the money would buy “a lot of kebabs”.
“During recent years Evkaf has been trying to get back to its origins, which is to help the community whenever there’s a need.
“Our intention is to get back to what Evkaf”s establishment was intended for, which is to work for the community and do projects that will make the lives of people better.”
The British High Commission did not respond to a request to comment from Cyprus Today.
Read the full interview with İbrahim Benter in next week’s edition.