Cypriot MP, Chairperson of the Cypriot delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Nicos Tornaritis, has sent a letter to his counterparts in PACE with regard to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
A press release issued by the House of Representatives, said that Tornaritis said in his letter that the illegal sale and exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in Cyprus’ occupied areas blatantly violate relevant judgements of the European Court of Human Rights.
Tornaritis noted that lately we have witnessed an unprecedented level of illegal activities related to the commercial exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties, noting that as efforts to resume negotiations for a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem continue to be stalled as a result of Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot leadership’s intransigence and unacceptable insistence for a two-state solution, it is imperative that conditions on the ground do not further cement the de facto
division of Cyprus.
Furthermore, the Cypriot MP asked PACE member states to raise awareness to their population regarding the illegality of such acts, highlighting that such activities are in direct breach of the relevant provisions of Cyprus’ Penal Code and that perpetrators of such illegal actions might find themselves entangled in complex and dangerous legal proceedings.
Finally, Tornaritis noted the importance of the continued support of the PACE member states towards Cyprus’ efforts in reaching a viable and lasting solution for the Cyprus problem, based on a bizonal bicommunal federation as stipulated in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency