The Turkish Cypriot press continues the report on the purchase of three hotels by Turkish Cypriots in the closed city of Famagusta.
Yeni Bakış writes today that the so-called Minister of Transport and Works, Erhan Arikli, described the newspaper's report as "wonderful news".
According to the publication, a Turkish Cypriot businessman said that he has bought three hotels in the besieged Famagusta from their owners and that he will open them for bookings in 2025 in the event that no obstacle arises.
In a post on social media, Arikli claimed:
"The strange thing is that this news caused the reaction of the well-known part in the north, which caused an echo in the south. But there is nothing to be surprised about. In the new policy that we introduced as the Turkish side, it was announced that Varosi will be gradually opened for the settlement of its old users. As required by this policy, the removal of Varosi from the status of a military district and its transfer to the real estate commission is on the agenda. Waiting for the right moment. After Varosi is opened for settlement, if there are some of the Greek Cypriots who left properties there and want to sell their properties as was done in the Acapulco model, it will be possible to buy these properties on behalf of Turkish businessmen. Greek Cypriots who do not want to sell their property will be able to live in Varosi, which will be opened for settlement under Turkish administration. That being the case, what problem could there be if a Turkish businessman bought some hotels in Varosi from now on? If this is true, it is wonderful news. In our opinion, Turkish businessmen who buy properties from Greeks should be encouraged."
Meanwhile, Kıbrıs writes that in statements made to the newspaper, "government officials" of the "TRBK" said that Yeni Bakış's information that the Turkish Cypriot businessman secured approval from the regime's "ministry of interior" for the purchase is not true. of the said Greek Cypriot property in Varosi.
"The developments in the closed Varosi will continue"
Besides, under this title, the director of Kıbrıs (02.05.23), Ozer Kanli, recalls statements of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, Vice President Fuat Oktay and the so-called Prime Minister Unal Ustel about Warsaw.
Noting that in statements made during his late March illegal visit to the occupied territories, Oktay claimed that decisions on Varoshi are made by the "authorities of the TRNC" and that Turkey will continue to support those decisions, pointing out that they are carried out the necessary works to turn the area into a part of the culture, economy and tourism of the "TRDBC".
Noting that Oktay points to the "TRDBK" and the "Committee of Real Estate" as those who will take the steps in Varoshy, the columnist reports that according to a statement made by Ustel in late 2022, an additional part of the enclosed area of Varosiou will open by the end of 2023.
Greek Cypriots panic over the sale of hotels in Famagusta, Hasipoglou sees
Kıbrıs Postası writes that the secretary general of the National Unity Party (UBP), Ertuğrul Hasipoglou argued that the "Greek Cypriot government", as he put it, is the one that will be panicked by the sale of hotels in the closed area of Varosi, and not the businessmen who they will sell the hotels in question.
In a written statement he issued today, Tuesday, in relation to the news of the purchase of three hotels in the besieged Famagusta by a Turkish businessman and the "panic" created on the Greek Cypriot side by this development, Hasipoglou claimed that the "Greek Cypriot administration", which For 40 years he presented himself as if he wanted a solution but he said no to all solution plans, that was the reason why Varosi, which is the most important touristic area of the Eastern Mediterranean, remained closed.
He claimed that "southern Cyprus", as he put it, is living in a dream, electing a "virtual mayor" for this region which he cannot manage and promising hope to the citizens.
Pointing out that Varosi had almost become a symbol of the Cyprus negotiations, Hasipoglou wondered: "Now with what face will they go and prevent their citizens from living under our own administration or owning their property?" Did the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots not wait long enough for Varosi?"
Hasipoglou also added the following:
"With the new policy that was established with the election of President Ersin Tatar and immediately after, a large part of the public spaces of the closed Varosi was opened, a part of it was removed from a military area and with this opportunity the possibility of utilizing the properties in this area was created area. If today the federation negotiations were to continue on the existing basis, because the closed Warsaw would be an important part of the territorial capital on the negotiating table, its opening and the effectiveness of justice in the Real Estate Committee would not be possible. For this reason, because the Greek Cypriot administration of southern Cyprus caused the delay in the opening of the closed Varosi, it has a duty to apologize and compensate all Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
With the support of our motherland, the improvements and investments made in public spaces have come to a certain point and when we enter a sustainable process in the sense of infrastructure and security, the decisions concerning private properties will also come to an end and commercial and social life will begin. Together with this principle, it is possible to quintuple the number of visitors to the closed area of Varosi which has been visited by more than one million people so far and due to the financial income, it will ensure a benefit especially in Famagusta and in general throughout the island.
And one last observation, while we offer the Greek Cypriots remedies for the properties they left in the north through the Real Estate Commission which the ECtHR accepts as an effective remedy, what remedies does the southern administration produce for the properties of the Turkish Cypriots left in the south? Leave aside getting a title deed, they are denied even the ability to own. With the 'law of the guardian' which they invented in their domestic law and which does not exist in any other part of the world, they almost froze any proceedings in relation to the properties. the Greek Cypriot administration of southern Cyprus, as it was not honest in the past at the negotiating table, continues to do everything in its power to make life difficult which continues".
Source: Sigmalive