Im glad the greeks are getting so excited! The party is over of course. but the party is now over for both sides!. Greek Cyprus has joined the EU, this in turn means that EU law is enforceable there. It is now not left to the Turkish and Greek governemnt to decide what happens - its the EU time.

This law is a presidant case which applies to all EU countries, now the Turksih Cypriots will be so excited as they too can claim back their land for which they have been confiscated from the Greek Cyrpiot government.

The Greek governemnt has built many public services on these roads in order to reduce the value of these properties for example police stations, football grounds, roads, electicity hubs.

Whatever the reason for both side there is surely one thing that will be true. There will be justice for both sides. Maybe now The turkish families that have not received their worthy claims in the North post 1974 can also claim their rightful property in the south.

Why the Greeks are so excited beats me - they have once again shot themselves in the foot and the best thing is they dont actualy realise it. (No to anan plan and now this)

finally this has also completely ruined any chance of a peace agreement. This lawyer has done so much damage to the good of "Cyprus" you cannot imagine. Shame on Cypriots.

In reply to Ghassan, your right it is all hooplah. Nevertheless it exposes Turkey for what is. A gangster state that shows contempt for international law. Ask the Kurds if you have any doubts.

As for the Orams, we can take some comfort that if they don't hand the property back to Mr Apostolides, he will be enjoying his holidays by the south coast of England!

From G.S. Nachawi.
I am a retired US Citizen living very pacefully in Cyprus. I have refrained from buying any property due to the title question.
Now, since a British Court ruled that those folks must bulldoze their villa, as it was built on Greek Land, my question is: how do you enforce such a decision? what autority does a British court have on the TRC sice the TRC is recognized by no one except Turkey? will you go now and pursue the case in Turkish courts?
In my opinion, all of this hooplah is for naught.

The Orams have got what they deserve and if they carry on fighting I hope they carry on loosing. Cyprus will never be reunited while the question of property remains outstanding. The North MUST give back property that they stole before they are allowed into the EU. They must also restore all the Churches they have desecrated

Well sounds like fun is just starting.
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With Orams case Greeks has scored a goal. Foreigner built on Greek land found guilty.
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It appears that similar situation exists in South Cyprus where Cyprus Goverment does not seem to give title deeds to foreigner who bought homes built on Turkish Land.
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Well soon we may see foreigners buying in South Cyprus being sued by it's legal owner Turkish Cypriot. Then Turkish side may score a goal. Later greeks will score again. Greek gowerment building airports on Turkish land, Turks will score yet another goal. etc etc.
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These cases taken to EU courts will only prove how both Greek and Turkish Cypriots are "naturalised" living seperately in two states on the island. Each state seem to break the rules as they see fit. Yet try to hide it from international arena as much as possible. Specially Greek side has done a pretty good job but no lie lasts forever.
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Trying to score against each other is only making any viable solution a distant dream. At the end of the day all Cypriots will loose.
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Turkish and Greek Cypriots drift apart further and further every day. Seems like two state partition is what both side desires. And during the process ordinary citizens of both sides will suffer.
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THE PARTYS JUST STARTED AND IT WILL BE A LONG ONE.

cool texas

This action has consequences not just for the north but the south also. It is reported that 25/30000 forigners have bought property
in the south. Not all of them will be on Greek land. Larnaca airport, I am told, is built on Turkish land. The owners referred to do not have Deeds for their properties, as the Greek Cypriot government will not issue them. So what chance for them then?

One could forsee a situation where the Turkish Cypriots brake off the talks and go for independence, especially as there could be a nationalist at the helm in a few weeks time. This is a sad situation, for both sides, considering there are ways for Greek owners of land or property to get compensation. In addition both the leaders have been endeavering to negotiate a land and property settlement.

What a shame for bth communities.

Orams case was a 'test case'. Other cases will be speeded through the EU Courts on the established precedent, that's how the law works. There are going to be a lot of expatriate Brits chucked out of their retirement homes in north Cyprus before all is said and done. And justifiably so.

Village of Tochni - enough said.

So the orams may have funds in the uk taken off them,
However, if they sell all assetts in uk. Put there money in an off shore account. Then go to the disputed villa and live there.
Who is going to chuck them out? when the peace talks succeed.
dream on!!
no 1 is a winner in this case. this episode is not over, but the peace talks may be now.

Could this test case action push the North to declare independence similar to Kosovo to protect their future? The North would expect the support of the EC as they voted for a united island within the EC in 2004.

Let me clarify for you since Im Cypriot and I know a bit more than the Chinese about the proplem in Cyprus:

• We try to form a partneship as fair as possiple and based on the rule of law and the values of Europe and the free world as close as possiple. We are not based on the Chinese or the Israeli perception of a fair law.
• We stop the EU providing funds to the Illigal regime only in cases where they want to build for example a hotel on my land in the oqupied areas. Cyprus government pays more for Turkish Cypriots in the form of social servises, free hospitals, offering jobs in the ROC than the EU at areas were they really matter.
• We trying to stop them from claiming our land, cities, villages as their state. It was taken from people by the use of guns, rape, killings and other acts of barbarity. There is only one legal and natural state in Cyprus and that is the ROC.
• The turist industry in the north is based on hotels and land owned by Cypriots for generations. They advertize our properties and villages falsely as theirs.
• An illegal entity cannot make agreements with other states to sell stollen goods. If the goods were produced legally based on the legal onweraship of the land then they can sell the goods through the ROC.
• The turkish Cypriot existence is destroyed by the illegal turkish settlers brought to the island by Turkey. Turkish Cypriots in the north are now a minority compare to the settlers and so their free will is bend if not existed.

So next time Claude from France and others stop asking the Chinese and the Israeles for a fair case in Cyprus as their version of fairness is miles away from the norm in the civilized and fair world.

Claude I would prefer to remember Socrates. he said

"Do you imagine that a city can continue to exist and not be turned upside down if the legal judgments which are pronounced in it have no force but are nullified by private persons?"

The dilemma for the decision makers in Turkey and the Occupied Area is this; do they abide by the decision of the UK Court of Appeal or do they continue to stick two fingers up to the rule of law? If it is the latter then how can anyone take Turkey or the "TRNC" seriously when they say they will "agree" to Annan type settlements if this is their approach to decisions they do not like? If the Turkish Cypriots want to remain part of a lawless world in the north of Cyprus fine; we will just have to strip the Britons and possibly Turkish Cypriots of their assets in the UK. But you cannot moan selectively about the rule of law. Put up or shut up.

To: The Star

You say you see the the turkish Cypriots as brothers and compatriots but still think its ok for them not to have jobs becuase there is no building work, or tourists are being frightened to go to north Cyprus, causing them not to have work, not being able to afford food and clothing for their children, et, etc,

By the way just because someone does not agree with your point of view does not mean they are not who they say they are or own property in Cyprus.

And yet without any hesitation you claim to see them as brothers.
WITH BROTHERS LIKE that WHO needs ENEMIES.

Please dont go on saying you love turkish cypriots when in actual fact you hate them. In other words stop lying to everyone.

AS Abraham Lincoln one said:

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time but you CAN NOT fool all of the people all of the time.

...and by the way, a message for the angry and rabid Turkish "Cypriots" (you know who you are) - who i believe could be nothing more than Anatolian settlers. If you feel so strongly against Greek-Cypriots or the Republic of Cyprus, hand back your Republic of Cyprus passports, give back your pensions, and stop coming across the ceasfire line to claim your free medical services.

In other words, put up, or shut up.

The property issue has become the Gordian knot of the peace talks. Even though it is pleasing when ordinary people,both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots,after suffering and tribulation manage against the odds to have their rights legally endorsed by the courts,such action will not lead to solving the general problem of Greek Cypriot property in the north or Turkish Cypriot property in the south.A possible way out is for the Turkish Cypriots to agree to the return of a percentage of land in areas that had very large numbers of Greek Cypriots pre 1974 like Morphou and Famagusta.There could also be property exchanges and cases for appropriate compensation.Finally, a percentage to be agreed on should be allowed to reclaim their properties,Turkish Cypriots coming south ,Greek Cypriots going north, and do with them as they will .In return for territory the Greek Cypriots have already offered the weighted voting system, rotating presidency etc.
Compromise,time and good will is the sharp knife that will cut the Gordian Knot of property in the talks.It is only the thieves and opportunists who have grown rich on stolen property and those countries who wish to prevent Cyprus from becoming a proud and independent country who argue against a solution that would benefit all of its people.

There is no problem with buying property in the TRNC if it is bought with pre-74 title deeds but people do not buy this property as it is as expensive as in the south.
I feel sorry for the Orams but they should have done their research.

I dont understand the Greek mentality.
All over the world when people want to unite, form partneship, get married etc, they are nice to each other. They buy flowers, they help them if needed, try to show they care and generally they try to build a relationship as part of the process.

In Cyprus the Greeks claim they want to unite and form a partnership with Turkish people and are following a process of talks but while this is hapening.
They try stop the EU for providing any help to turkish Cypriots
They try to destroy whatever economy they are trying to develop
They try to destroy the tourist industry in the north
They try to stop turkish people from selling their produce
They SIMPLY trying to destroy the turkish Cypriots existence while they are talking unification..

Does this seem like an action of someoone who want to unite in a partnership and leave in peace? I think NOT.

Thats why I think it will never happen. Partition has got to be the answer. I am sure everyone will realise it sooner or later.

Trying to sue tourists staying in the TRNC is a big joke. Lawyers such as Candounas are only interested in their fee. Poor clients if they agree being taken for a ride.

nick
don't make me laugh.
i would like to see candounas sue the israelis
if he cant.
that will be a good one to watch.

Ozcanhan. Do you believe in the rule of law? After all you say you are lawyer. The Court of Appeal does and said so many times in its decision. Have you read the decision? If so you will know that the prevailing policy of any Government has not and cannot prevail over the reality of property owenrship. This decision benefits both Greek and Turkish Cypriots who have been dispossesed. AT his UK press conference Mr Candounas was at pains to point out that he is in fact representing more Turkish Cypriots than Greek Cypriots in trying to recover their property. The way you write suggests that you have a vested interest in supporting the illegal state of affairs in the Occupied Arae. I hope that is not so.

Well done Kandouras. The party is over in the north, as youve underlined. What about the party nthat has been going on in South Cyprus and many other parts of the island since 1955-58-63-74, on the properties of Turkish Cypriots. The longest party and orgy enjoyed by Greek Cypriots without any restrictions, thus far...
You are preparing to sue more foreigners and tourists. Go ahead.
What ever the outcome of courts and trials, how, do you think the Cyprus problem will ever be solved, when courts are resorted to more often and politicians are not left free to tackle the Cyprus problem amicably? What can Christofias and Talat do to resolve the cyprus problem when the property issue has turned into another stumbling block in their way?
As a lawyer, I believe, you should better help the two negotiators to solve the Cyprus problem urgently together with the property snag, by, either recommending exchange of properties, compensation or an poverall deal between the two administrations in the islaand.. The past mistakes led to the present stalemate in Cyprus, and, I wonder who will ever unravel the tight knot.
Could you be more helpful..
Thanks
Ozcanhan