Solution to end property abuse?

E DII TO RII A L

Since 1974, Greek Cypriot refugees have rightly been allowed access and right of use of Turkish Cypriot properties abandoned by their owners who fled to the north, while most Greek Cypriot homes and land were sold to foreigners who will be called to give up their right or directly compensate the original owners.

On the other hand, any Greek Cypriot or Turkish Cypriot who wishes to return and re-occupy the ‘home’ property, may do so, according to what has been revealed in the Cyprob talks so far. Internal migration is unlimited, but beyond those allowed to take up full rights in the other’s federal territory, the remainder will still be free to resettle or start up a business, but will have no voting rights, i.e. no say in ‘local’ politics.

This is the essence of the discussions that has been going on ever since the first epic document (aka the Annan Plan) was drafted back in 2003 and subsequently rejected the year after.

But the Ministry of Interior as the guardian of Turkish Cypriot estates, has allowed for Turkish Cypriot properties to be let out to non-beneficiaries, ie. non-refugees, using the excuse that there had been no demand for the properties in question. We all know how this worked over the years, with the ruling political party of the day dishing out properties like sweets during a children’s party, mostly to party supporters.

These properties should have been returned to the guardian a long time ago, perhaps even in 2003/04, so as to better administer the assets in question. Instead, government and politicians have turned a blind eye to the constant abuse, resulting in two neighbouring tenants having a tenfold difference in what they pay – the first, paying the going rate to the owner, while the second paying crumbs-worth of a monthly or annual rent to the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties.

One of these properties is none other than the prized Mackenzie beach in Larnaca, that used to be swampland prior to 1974 (which is why a small airfield was built nearby during British Colonial rule), and nowadays carries ridiculous monthly rents, with some of the restaurants on the popular beach paying fourdigit figures. Ironically, the ‘owner’ or guardian gets only a fraction of that.

Now that the Ministry and Larnaca municipality have agreed that administration and rent from Mackenzie beach returns to the state, perhaps the corruption of the middle-men will also end. Unless the people left in charge will be none other than those who allowed Turkish Cypriot properties to be let out to friends and party supporters at ten or twenty euros a month.

Hopefully, a solution will put an end to this abuse and those who have profited over the decades called to contribute a respectable amount to any compensation fund that will be set up for all refugees.