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‘Sorry the party’s over’
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CyprusFOREIGN TRESPASSERS and illegal developers of Greek Cypriot properties in the north were warned in no uncertain terms yesterday that “the party is over” by the lawyer for Melitis Apostolides in the Orams case.
Constantis Candounas warned that there was “no free ride” anymore for those who exploit Greek Cypriot properties in the north following the victory in the English Court of Appeal on Tuesday. “My only message to trespassers and illegal developers in the north is that the party is over. I’m sorry,” he said.
The English Appeals Court ruled in favour of Apostolides, ordering the Orams to demolish the home they built on his land in Lapithos, return the property and pay back rent (£300 for every month since 2002 plus interest) and legal costs, estimated at around £1.35 million sterling.
The Orams legal team yesterday sought to appeal the decision, which the appellate judges had already ruled was final. “They are trying to argue the inarguable,” said Candounas. They also sought a 42-day stay of execution to see how the decision could be implemented. The authorities in the north have already announced they would not implement the decision.
Candounas told the Cyprus Mail that if the Orams failed to pay what was due, then Apostolides could go after their assets in the UK, following the latest seminal ruling. If they failed to demolish the house and stop trespassing, “then they are in contempt of court and it’s up to the court to decide how to react”.
Greek Cypriot refugee Apostolides said he didn’t take pleasure in the Orams’ suffering or anybody else’s, but that he was trying to get his property and rights back.
“I may not be a politician but I am an active ‘politis’, the Greek word for citizen,” he said, adding, “It’s not about the money anyway. It’s about returning home.
Candounas thanked all those who contributed to the successful outcome of the case, paying special tribute to Achilleas Demetriades, the lawyer for Titina Loizidou, who “opened the way for all of us”.
He also thanked “those who actually chose Cherie Blair (the wife of Tony Blair) to be our counterpart”, noting “she is a brilliant lawyer”.
“No one can claim that the Orams did not have adequate legal representation, they had the best legal assistance money could buy. Mrs Blair has provided for free a publicity that we would have to spend millions of pounds to obtain. She turned this into a high profile case and where people would not have heard of this case now they have heard and are aware of the situation that exists in Cyprus,” he said.
The architect of her appointment was probably a Cypriot, who thought “to appoint the mukhtar’s wife to represent them,” the lawyer added.
Candounas is already working on a new brief, having received instructions from the owners of the Dome Hotel in Kyrenia to sue for trespass 60 tourists who visited the hotel in 2009.
He clarified that “we do not object to the development of tourism in the north, I believe that it should be encouraged but not at the expense of the Greek Cypriots and definitely not in Greek Cypriot properties”.
He called on Turkish Cypriots to reach some arrangement with the real owners of these properties, and in particular with the Castellis family who own the Dome.
“This is not a political thing, this is purely business and I am sure an agreement could be reached between the parties involved,” he said, adding, “There is no intention to stop business in the north, but there is no free ride, the party is over.”
He is also in the process of taking a British couple to court for their use of property in occupied Karmi village, while he has received instructions from Charita Mandoles and her family to institute legal proceedings against the Republic of Turkey in Cyprus courts. When a judgment is obtained, the family will try to have it enforced in Europe, he said.
Replying to questions, Candounas noted that if he wanted to, Apostolides could have sued the Turkish Cypriots living in his house, “because his house is next to the holiday house of the Orams…but he didn’t”.
Apostolides added: “I could understand in some way the Turkish Cypriots living in my house but I could not accept somebody coming from abroad, especially as an investor, speculator, to have more rights on my property than anybody else.”
Asked whether he would sue for trespass the hundreds of Greek Cypriots who frequent casinos in the north built on Greek Cypriot land, Candounas replied: “I’m a lawyer, not one of the three musketeers”.
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rachel comments:
please can you tell me why you constantly write about the poor dead cat? why dosent sombody do something about the situation?
Rachel
Reality from London comments:
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.
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.
Reality from London comments:
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.
Theodoros from Cyprus comments:
Dear Mr Nachawi, your are right. The real question is for how much longer will Turkey be able to maintain the illegal status quo. The cost for Turkey is rising exponentially, as well as for those who chose to ignore international law and deal with the illegal regime of the occupied part of Cyprus. Foreigners are now having to face the consequences and neither the presence of the Turkish army is going to help them any nor loud proclamations by TC pseudo officials or those of cynical Turkish officials. So, we are left with the question: how much longer can Turkey turn a blind eye to the world's reality? Time will tell. In the mean time, if you are going to invest in property make sure it has a proper Cyprus (Republic of) title.
MichaelA from Middle East comments:
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!
MichaelA comments:
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!
GHASSAN NACHAWI from Pervolia/ Cyprus comments:
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.
trixi from girne comments:
JOHN OSWALD
I OFFER YOU TWO CAMELS FOR YOUR HOUSE IN PAPHOS
DO YOU HAVE YOUR TITILE DEEDS IN YOUR NAME ARE YOU SURE YOUR LAND IS ON GREEK LAND IF SO
SCAN AND SEND IT ON LINE BECAUSE IF YOU DO YOUR ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IN THE SOUTH
XX
JOHN OSWALD from Paphos comments:
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
Ian Topwood from W. Cyprus comments:
STEVE FROM NEW JERSEY
Thank you for your intelligent input - perhaps the indigenous natives of America would like you to return to your roots as well - as you say, NO SETTLERS!
Maybe also the 800,000 or so Cypriots living in the UK should go home too, more of them there than actually live on the Island!!!!!!!!!!
As fpr suing Hotel guests - now I know the lunatics have really taken over the asylum!
The views expressed in the comments above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Cyprus Mail.