Work started by the TRNC to deal with the property issue, which presents one of the key aspects in settling the Cyprus issue, are continuing under three different headings, namely Greek Cypriot properties within the borders of the TRNC, Turkish Cypriot properties in South Cyprus and immoveable properties belonging to the Evkaf.

While the Compensation Commission, which was set up under the relevant bill to settle Greek Cypriot property claims within the borders of the TRNC through exchange or compensation, is continuing its works, a separate office dealing with Turkish Cypriot properties in South Cyprus is now operating. The office, which will carry out its work under the Attorney General’s Office, will today start to accept applications.

Attorney General Akin Sait, pointing out that all Turkish Cypriots who have suffered losses for their properties in South Cyprus could apply and that this office would also investigate all claims on behalf of all those Turkish Cypriots whose properties had been expropriated by the Greek Cypriots and seek compensation from the Greek Cypriot Administration. Sait added that all costs for such applications would be covered by the TRNC State.

Meanwhile, legal proceedings started by the Evkaf Administration regarding ownership rights for properties in South Cyprus and in the closed area of Varosha are continuing and as a first step the Evkaf Administration has requested 173 million US Dollars in compensation from the Greek Cypriot Administration for the Bekirpasa Suyu in Larnaca, and it is also getting ready to prepare new initiatives regarding Varosha.

It has been identified that in the last three months, another 111 Turkish Cypriot immoveable properties (in South Cyprus) have been expropriated by the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The discovery was made by scanning all expropriation decisions that appeared in the Greek Cypriot official gazette and according to this decision Turkish Cypriot properties in seven villages and Paphos were confiscated for so-called "road construction" purposes.

The first scanning results were announced on 13 August, 2003 and a list of approximately 500 Turkish Cypriot immoveable properties that had been expropriated in the last two years had been published. Yesterday’s (September 3) list that was distributed to the press covers the three month period between March-May 2003.

TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu stated that the Greek Cypriot Administration has started work to try and lower the price of Turkish Cypriot land and properties between the Larnaca-Limassol coastal strip.