The right of return
The issue of the right to return for residents of Karpasia comes up regularly in questions from members of the public. It is essential to clarify certain questions, such as the following:
· As regards the right to return under Turkish Cypriot administration, will the former inhabitants of the four Karpasia villages be included in the permitted 21 per cent quota of Greek Cypriots in the Turkish Cypriot state?
· Likewise, will the properties that will be restored in Karpasia be included within the agreed levels for the reinstatement of property (there can be no restitution of property beyond 20 per cent of any specific municipality or village or 10 per cent of the total land and number of residences of either constituent state)?
Today, we examine the first of these two issues regarding the right of return. The Annan plan contains specific provisions relating to the former residents and their descendants of four Karpasia villages – Yialoussa, Melanagra, Ayia Triada and Rizokarpaso – as well as to all former residents aged over 65 of areas that will fall under Turkish Cypriot administration. These two categories of displaced people will be able to exercise the right to return two years after the coming into force of the Foundation Agreement (as opposed to the others who will only be able to return after six years).
The right to permanent residence for other people, who were either displaced in 1974 or are owners of affected properties eligible for reinstatement, will only be granted inasmuch as they fall within the agreed percentages that will be in force until Turkey’s accession to the European Union, when the unrestricted right of settlement will come into force across the whole of Cyprus. Until then, the ceiling for the number of people from the Greek Cypriot constituent state who will be allowed to reside permanently on the other side will stand at 21 per cent of the population of the Turkish Cypriot state. In other words, 15 years after the coming into force of the Foundation Agreement, for every 100 residents of the Turkish Cypriot state, 21 one of those will be able to hail from the Greek Cypriot state.
People who come from the four villages of Karpasia or are aged over 65 will be able to exercise the right of return irrespective of the above restriction. They will be able to exercise that right without any restriction, even if the ceiling for permanent residents has already been reached. However, these people will be counted among the number of returnees for the purposes of calculating how many people have taken permanent residency on the other side.
How many people will be able to exercise the right of return under the Annan plan as regards former residents of Karpasia and people over the age of 65?
In an interview given about a year ago to Suleyman Erguclu on Kibris TV, Didier Pfirter from Alvaro de Soto’s negotiating team gave the following figures:
The number of people who came from the four villages in 1974 was 6,000. Taking into account the fact that the population has risen by 40 per cent since then, the number of people in question would today be about 8,400, who would have the right to return two years after the coming into force of the Foundation Agreement.
On top of that, the United Nations estimates that another 12,500 people over the age of 65 would fall into the category of those will have the right to return after two years, so the total number comes close to 21,000. Whoever reaches the age of 65 will automatically have the right to return throughout the period when transitional limitations will be in force.
What rights will former residents of Karpasia have when they return to their villages?
The Greek Cypriots who will be residing in the Karpasia villages of Rizokarpaso, Yialoussa, Ayia Triada and Melanagra will enjoy the right to manage their own cultural, religious and educational affairs and to representation within the legislative body of the Turkish Cypriot State. They will also take part in consultations on issues affecting zoning and planning in their villages.
According to the map defining the territorial arrangements in the Annan plan, some Turkish Cypriot villages will come under Greek Cypriot administration. These are the Tylliria villages of Amadies, Limnitis, Selemani, Xerovouno, Karavostasi, Ayios Georgios and Kokkina, as well as the Mesaoria villages of Pyla, Skylloura, and Ayios Vassilios. The Turkish Cypriots residing in these villages will enjoy the same rights as the Greek Cypriots residing in the four Karpasia villages.
