This week in North Cyprus > 18th-25th February 2006
Arif has his keys
Turkish Cypriot Arif Mustafa this week unlocked the door of his Episkopi house for the first time in nearly 32 years, after the Greek Cypriot Attorney General and the family who had been living there abandoned a legal fight against the property being returned to him.
"Its a great joy to be able to return to my property," Mr Mustafa told reporters. But while the case - the first of its kind brought by a Turkish Cypriot back to the South - has been viewed as a legal landmark, authorities and commentators on both sides of the "Green Line" were quick to say that it did not set a precedent.
Greek Cypriot Attorney-General Petros Klerides vowed that any future cases would be considered on thier merits, and observers pointed out that the withdrawal of an appeal against a lower courts decision to return the houe to Mr Mustafa had adverted the possibility of a precedent-setting judgement in the South's Supreme Court.
Greek Cypriot government spokesman George Lillikas, answering concerns that another 30 Turkish Cypriot Court claims pending could mean more families losing their homes, described Mr Mustafas case as "isolated".
And the experts message to people living in the ex-Greek Cypriot property in North was that the case would have no bearing on how simular claims were handled in the TRNC.
A three month deadline set by the European Court of Human Rights for the Turkish side to come up with a genuine effective domestic remedy for such cases - effectively putting on hold some 1,400 Greek Cypriot cases already lined up at the ECHR - expires on March 22.
All in all it is said that the reinstatement of all properties after 32 years is practically impossible. If the official thesis of the Greek Cypriot administration , "that everyone should return to their homes", were implemented, thousands of people would become refugees again, and a clash between Turkish and Greek Cypriots would be unavoidable.
Mrs Emine Erk, chairman of Human Rights Foundation, said the Mustafa case had no effect, in legal terms, on Turkish Cypriots and foreigners living in former Greek Cypriot property in the North.
"The Greek Cypriots reached a result within their own legal system and we take certain decisions in our own legal system. But all of these issues can be settled with a final solution of the Cyprus problem - if not there will always be confussion and chaos".
Bad for Business
Forigners starting up a new business in the TRNC are to face an increase of more that 200per cent in the capital needed after officials said they were only interested in "real investors". The move brought accusations that it might scare off new investment. From April 1 anyone who is not a TRNC citizen starting up a new business must prove they have capital in the bank of $ 100,000- $ 70,000 up on the present figure of $ 30,000.
The Council of Ministers on Wednesday ratified the increase, with officials saying ministers wanting to bring in "serious money" to boost the econemy. In addition, $ 10,000 must be paid as a deposit to the goverment, refundable after one month. Ministry went against a recommendation by the Chamber of Commerce to increase the amount needed by only $ 20,000 to 50,000. Now they have been accused of "pricing out" small business investors who the Chambers says will be put off by the high amount, in addition to start-up expenses. Accontant Fevzi Adanir, who specialises in helping small businesses, said foreign investors would be deterred from starting up in Northern Cyprus.
This will attract real investors into the country - people with serious money who will boost the economy and provide a real benifit to the TRNC.
Halide to get her Father's house back at last.
A Turkish Cypriot woman who moved into her Fathers house in the South four years ago but was denied access is set to get her property back at last.
She says: "I started to meet with and write to the authorities in 2002 to get back our house but the kept me hanging on for three tears.
"There was a man staying at the house sometimes, but when I went to see him he was abusive and once pulled a knife on me so I could not do anything."
"A court verdict was finally anounced in December 2004 and the authorities said i would get my house in 30 days.
I went to the authorities every day to get me keys but there was always some excuse.
The head of Larnaca district called me four months ago and told me they would give me a temporary place to stay untill they repaired my house"
"It was a very old and bad house and repairs for our house where going to take a week, but it has now been five months and nothing has happened yet".
"The man living in my fathers house died last month and the authorities told me the place would be given to me shortly, but I have still heard nothing official yet"
Currency exchange rates
US Dollar |
1.32 |
UK Pound |
2.30 |
Cyprus Pound |
2.64 |
Euro |
1.57 |
The weather this week in North Cyprus
Cold and wet at first but clearing midweek and becoming warmer, with temperatures rising from a maximum of 16-18C by the end of the weekend to 19-21C by the end of the week. Winds wiil be moderate easterly to north-eastrly and south-easterly and becoming strong at times.
Maximum, mimimum temperatures and rainfall in North Cyprus last week
Town/City |
Minimum Temperature |
Maximum Temperature |
Rain |
Lefkosa |
-1.1 |
17.2 |
3.4 |
Ercan |
-0.1 |
17.0 |
0.7 |
Gazi Magusa |
0.8 |
18.2 |
9.9 |
Girne |
5.5 |
19.0 |
4.4 |
Güzelyurt |
1.0 |
19.0 |
1.8 |
Resources: Cyprus Today and Cyprus Times
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