Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica in his weekly press statement issued yesterday (12 June) referring to the property issue stated that it was one of cornerstones of the Cyprus problem and should be solved within the framework of a comprehensive settlement. Ercakica said however it was possible to solve some very urgent elements of the property issue and the Immovable Property Commission in the TRNC was established with this aim.

Explaining that the Immovable Property Commission was set up with the aim of constituting a “domestic remedy” for the property issue, Ercakica said the Commission was increasingly becoming more acceptable by the international community. Ercakica said however the Greek Cypriot administration was proclaiming those Greek Cypriots applying to the Commission “traitors”.

Ercakica pointed out that the fact that the property issue was not only the problem of the Greek Cypriots but also of the Turkish Cypriots, should not be forgotten. Likewise, recently some Turkish Cypriots had applied to domestic remedies in South Cyprus but could not get positive results.

Meanwhile, according to the information we have received, Turkish Cypriot properties in South Cyprus had been seriously plundered and this was also appeared in the Greek Cypriot press.

Ercakica stated that following the opening of the borders between North and South Cyprus, many Turkish Cypriots visited their property left in South Cyprus, but was very disappointed as they realized that some Turkish Cypriot villages were completely disappeared. Ercakica added that houses, mosques, cemeteries and schools which belonged to Turkish Cypriots all became ruins.

Following are the names of the Turkish Cypriot villages which were destroyed in South Cyprus announced during the weekly press conference:

“Larnaca; Pertrofan, Softalar.

Paphos; Pitargu, Melendra, Vretçça, Evretu, Faslý, Falya, Antriliku, Karamulliyes, Kurtaga, Sarama, Lukurnu, Marona, Moronero, Susuz, Istinco, Zaharga, Tremetusa, Magunda, Prastyo.

Limassol; Asagý Kivides, Yerovasa.

Nicosia; Alevkaya, Alifodez, Ay Sozomeno, Aybifan, Kurtbogan, Selcuklu, Vroiþa.”

Ercakica said under these circumstances, it was unfair to separate the property issue from the Cyprus problem and try to show it as being the problem of only Greek Cypriots.

Continuing, Ercakica said:

“We have recently shared our views with the public opinion regarding the UNFICYP report of the UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and announced that we consider the parts of the report regarding the good offices mission as generally positive. The TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a more comprehensive statement concerning the technical aspects of the report.

The part of the said report prepared by Mr. Ban Ki-moon regarding the 8 July process is particularly significant. The 8 July process is being maintained. Therefore, this report is significant in terms of indicating the problems encountered during the process or establishing the way these problems are perceived by the UN. The future probable developments in the process will have to be undertaken in line with the establishments.

It is clearly stated in the report that the main aim of the 8 July process is “the launching of the bi communal working groups which will deal with substantive issues and the bi communal technical committees which will discuss issues affecting the day-to day life of the people”. The Turkish Cypriot side is acting completely in accordance with this aim.

The report also states that the problems that are being encountered at the moment are about “what constitutes a day-to-day matter and the mechanism for resolving disagreements”.

For the advancement of the 8 July process, the parties should naturally settle these problems. Not only the view and position of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding this issue is quite clear, but it has also been conveyed to our counterparts many times both verbally and in writing.