Turkey wants to use the alleged return of property to the Greek Cypriots in Famagusta as an alibi to strengthen its position that the closed area, almost 75%, belongs to EVKAF. The plans of the Turks in relation to the closed area of Varosia go through various phases and go beyond the invitation to Greek Cypriots to go and take their property with the only requirement being to be under the administration of the pseudo-state.
Both from the actions of the Turkish side and from the information that the Cypriot Government has in mind, it seems that Turkey already has a roadmap ready on how to proceed with the issue of Famagusta, with the final goal of entering the closed area "Turkish parliament". , that is, to "legitimize Turkey's position that these properties are vakuf and therefore belong to it".
Metin Feizioglu (president of the Turkish Bar Association) in his statements admitted the trouble that Turkey is suffering due to the claims of Greek Cypriot property in Famagusta. There are currently 281 cases before the "real estate committee" with the cost to the Turkish state estimated at two billion euros.
This amount is considered extremely large. That is why the Turkish side decided to promote taxation to those who hold Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories to pay a percentage for the "committee". It is not expected that they will be able to fully cover this amount in the end.
At the same time, the Turkish side wants to maintain the "commission" as a satisfactory remedy, convincing the European Court of Human Rights. At the same time, through the ECtHR, she wants to save time in order to pass on her own narrative that the majority of the land in the enclosed area of Famagusta is bakuf and belongs to EVKAF. This is proven through a series of correspondence from the Turkish side to the ECtHR. As also recorded through the last discussions that took place in the occupied territories and within the "committee".
Ankara and the Turkish regime know that the invitation to the Greek Cypriots, either through the "committee" or with a public appeal, to have the right to use their property in Famagusta, will not find a substantial response. He knows that the Greek Cypriots, no matter how much they want to take back their property, will not accept to take it and be under Turkish administration, much less to recognize with their act this so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", such as the Feizioglou also raised.
He will further try to use EVKAF documents in order to "overthrow" the claims of the Greek Cypriots by presenting the properties in question as vakufiks.
Through this path, Turkey believes that it will be able to achieve a series of decisions, first before the "committee" and the "courts" of the pseudo-state and then at the ECtHR, which will make the fenced area of Varosia Turkish. This was one of the slogans used last Saturday during the meeting in the closed area of Famagusta, that Varosia is Turkish territory. It now remains to substantiate this claim with the appropriate legal framework.
Confrontation in the "parliament" for Varosi
Turkey's plans not only upset Nicosia but, according to Turkish Cypriot press reports, also sparked controversy within the occupied territories. According to the reports (translation of GTP), during the last session of the "parliament" of the occupying regime, strong criticisms were heard. The so-called Prime Minister Ersin Tatar responded to the criticism, arguing that the move to Famagusta had nothing to do with the "elections" and added: "Should we wait another 50 years for Varosi? We may not be within international law, we may not be recognized, but our state continues to grow despite some difficulties. The statements of Mr. Oktai and the other officials about Varosi made our hearts rejoice ".
Moreover, the president of the Renaissance Party (YDP) of the settlers, Erhan Arikli, said that both the opposition and Akinci wanted to participate in the meeting. He argued, however, that after his recent statements, Akinci could not meet so easily with Turkish officials.
Republican Turkish Republican Party (CTP) MP Asim Akansoy spoke of a "significant move for Varosi", stressing that "we must not go beyond international law".
Asked by CTP "MP" Ozdil Nami "how to resolve Varosi at a time when there is a UN resolution", Tatar said that "the UN is a backward thing".
It was worth one, now they get a hundred
During the debate in the "parliament" of the occupying regime, the "prime minister" Ersin Tatar recorded another view of the Turkish side that has to do with the costing of Greek Cypriot property.
Responding to a question from Republican Turkish Party "MP" Dogus Deria, who asked where the money for the buildings in Famagusta would come from, Tatar said it would be done through the "real estate committee" and property restitution. He noted that a property in Varosi that was worth one million dollars in 1974 will now be 100 million dollars and added that the owners will welcome this.
Letters, protests and reactions in Nicosia
President Anastasiadis sent letters to the UN Secretary General, the leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the heads of state and government in the EU yesterday, to inform them about Turkey's new challenges in Famagusta. The PTA intends to brief EU officials and leaders on this issue at its forthcoming European Council.
In an interview with the Bloomberg news network, President Anastasiadis included Turkey's actions in the Famagusta case in the wider grid of Ankara's challenges in the wider region.
According to President Anastasiadis, the international community has not acted to counter Turkey's moves in Syria, Libya, Iraq and the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone or its plan to open the besieged city of Famagusta. "There is no determination on the part of the countries to take the appropriate measures and this creates the risk of conflict," said President Anastasiadis, noting that France is the only country that has taken an active role in the region.
Meanwhile, the reactions of the political parties on the issue of Famagusta are intense.
DIKO noted that Turkey is escalating its challenges through the so-called "initiative" for the enclosed area of Famagusta, which in essence seeks to ensure recognition of sovereignty in the pseudo-state.
EDEK said that "what is seen in the light of the publicity surrounding the statement of the president of the Turkish Bar Association confirms Turkey's intentions, which are nothing more than using Famagusta as the temptation to reach a solution of Turkish standards."
ELAM believes that "Turkish policy is moving in a game of confinement of the Republic of Cyprus, through which we will be led to the recognition of the occupation abortion, either through the Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation or through Famagusta."
A representative of the American embassy in Nicosia also spoke yesterday about the issue of Famagusta. As a representative of the US Embassy in Cyprus stated to KYPE, "our policy for Varosha has not changed. Any unilateral action to open Varosha or to settle the city with people other than its legal residents would not contribute to the resumption of talks for a solution and would be contrary to UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789. "The United States looks forward to these resolutions being respected by all parties." A representative of the embassies of Russia, France and Britain also demanded respect for the UN resolutions with his statements to KYPE.
Source: philenews