A solution must contain land rights for refugees

I read Dervis Eroglu’s position that the Cyprus talks “will now be pointless” after the European Court of Justice ruling that the Orams purchase of Greek Cypriot property in the north belongs to their true owner (Cyprus Mail, May 1). I have one question for him: if we accept the argument that a final solution requires some land exchange, what will be there to exchange once the true owners of the land lose their rights?

And if no provision exists for the recognition of the rights of the people to return to their homes, what is the point for further talks?

Past and current history is full of political spin and photo ops against the aspiration of refugees to return to their homes. To make a distinction on these people’s rights, on the basis of whether they are Palestinians, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Serbs, Georgians, Sudanese, is nobody’s right to claim. Certainly not Mr Eroglu’s.

Of course, I still don’t understand the claim of the British couple on a property that was stolen from a refugee, but while they’re at it, they may be interested at a couple of cheap ships anchored off the coast of Somalia – currently selling at rock bottom prices.

Demetris Ioannou
Larnaca, Cyprus