CHRISTODOULOS Taramoundas of the European Party yesterday dismissed calls for the issuing of title deeds for refugees as idle talk and nothing more than vote mongering ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.
Earlier this week AKEL and DIKO raised a few eyebrows when they urged the government to “immediately proceed” with the issuing of title deeds; this represented a remarkable U-turn for both parties, which in the past have strongly opposed any such action.
Back in 1998, AKEL, DIKO and EDEK voted in parliament the passing of laws putting an end to the practice initiated by the then Clerides administration. The Clerides government had by that time issued some 5,000 title deeds to refugees
The three parties had said that the granting of title deeds led to social injustice as it created two categories of refugees: those who managed to get hold of deeds and those who did not, primarily because of political complications because the houses were located on land belonging to Turkish Cypriots before 1974.
Moreover, they argued the practice gave out the wrong impression that refugees were surrendering their rightful claim to properties in the occupied north as a trade-off for housing titles in the south.
The legislation passed in 1998 left the vast majority of refugees without title deeds. The problem has been hotly debated ever since, but was highlighted recently when a Greek Cypriot, evicted from his house after his parents died, took his case to the Supreme Court.
The man, a father of two, remained homeless after being ordered to vacate the premises because he did not possess a title deed.
Turkish Cypriot properties in the government-controlled areas were allocated to Greek Cypriot refugees who had lost theirs in the 1974 invasion.
The land was taken over by the Guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties – the Interior Minister – with a view to its return in the event of a solution.
The opening of the checkpoints in April 2003 has further complicated matters, as a number of Turkish Cypriots have expressed the desire to return to their properties, currently occupied by Greek Cypriot refugees.
In passing the 1998 law, AKEL and DIKO had charged the Clerides government of electioneering in the run-up to the presidential elections in the same year. Yesterday Taramoundas said the two parties were now guilty of the same vice.
“If they mean business, let them sign with us a bill repealing the current laws. Otherwise, their appeals to the government are but hollow promises aimed at garnering votes from refugees,” he said.
“I’m afraid they’re taking people for a ride…people should learn to distinguish between political trickery and genuine intentions.”
“Unless refugees see something actually being done, they should not take the bait,” Taramoundas added.
