British Government Repeats Warning Over Property Rights In Northern Cyprus

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

27 January 2006

The British government has reiterated its warning that prospective property buyers in disputed area of Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus potentially face a legal minefield.

Minister of State, Douglas Alexander told parliament that the Government continues to warn British citizens through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of "the risks of purchasing property in northern Cyprus that arise from the international community’s non-recognition of the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus'" particularly in relation to the property implications of any future settlement and the claims to ownership of Cypriots displaced in 1974.

Mr Alexander, who was responding to a question from the Conservative MP Roger Gale last week, added that “we further warn British citizens that they may face legal proceedings in the Cypriot courts and elsewhere in the EU, including the UK," adding that the government "strongly advises" British citizens to seek independent legal advice.

One British couple, David and Linda Orams, have already found themselves embroiled in a complex international legal case after they were accused in a Cypriot court last April of illegally occupying an originally Greek Cypriot property in the north of the island.

The couple were ordered to demolish their home and return the property to Meletis Apostolides, the Greek Cypriot who owned the property prior to the Turkish invasion in 1974.

As the Greek Cypriot ruling cannot be enforced in northern Cyprus, lawyers lodged the judgment with the British High Court. This means that the decision can be applied against the Orams' assets in Britain.

Controversially, the Orams have enlisted the services of Cherie Booth QC, a leading barrister and wife of British Prime Minster Tony Blair, to head their legal defence.

Mr Alexander also stated that while the government was aware of plans to build leisure, tourist and educational facilities in the area of the Turkish occupied Morphou village, it was unable to control illegal property development in occupied Cyprus.

“Whilst we maintain a dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot community on all aspects of the Cyprus settlement, the Government is not in a position to control property development in the north” the Minister noted.

“We recognise that the Turkish Cypriots face powerful economic forces in a perverse political environment and believe that the difficult and complex issues relating to property in Cyprus can only be resolved as part of a comprehensive settlement”, Mr Alexander added.

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