Details on the property issue in the ongoing Cyprus talks have been revealed by Turkish newspaper Milliyet, whose informants have suggested that the return of properties is still on the negotiating table and currently undergoing final adjustments.
According to the newspaper’s publication on Thursday, the initial application of a Greek Cypriot or a Turkish Cypriot will be filed with the Property Committee, which will examine the application and decide whether or not it is valid.
Milliyet’s article, CNA reported, says that in the case the application is deemed valid, the Committee will examine the options of ‘exchange, recompense, or return’. It also suggests that should a property have been undeveloped in 1974 but has subsequently had a home constructed on it, the land in question will not be returned to the owner. The property owner will be recompensed for the value of his/her property.
If the property in question is a home which has been left empty, than a rule of 1/3 will be put into place. Milliyet says that the rule of 1/3 means that only 1/3 of the property will be returned to the rightful owner, and a title deed owned by a Turkish Cypriot will made into a title deed of a federal Cyprus.
For public properties recompense will be given to the owners, the newspaper noted.
Religious properties
Milliyet has said that all religious properties will be returned, but not all properties owned by the church/mosque, except those that are used for religious ceremonies.
The newspaper’s information has said that the rest of the properties will be given based on the formula developed regarding the ‘emotional bond’ individuals have for their properties. Milliyet says that if a Turkish Cypriot or a Greek Cypriot says that they lived in the property before 1974 and that they have an ‘emotional bond’ they will have the ability to return to their homes.
However, the newspaper added this will be determined by the criteria, and who is living in the property at the moment.
Milliyet has said that those criteria are still being discussed at the Cyprus negotiating table as the final adjustments are being made. The newspaper has mentioned that they estimate approximately 5,000 Greek Cypriots between the ages of 67 and 75 will have their properties returned, adding that if a Greek Cypriot selects the option of return then the individual living in the property will be recompensed.
The newspaper has said that the Turkish Cypriot team is taking serious steps to reach a solution, in an effort to avoid social or economic problems in the future.
Milliyet added that if the Greek Cypriot side makes concessions on the territory issues, than there will be more elasticity in the guarantee issue.
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