IN AN exclusive interview with the CYPRUS MAIL last night, Linda Orams expressed her bitter disappointment at yesterdays High Court ruling, and revealed that she is now preparing to travel to the north to arrange the demolition of her villa.
“We will be coming out to Cyprus shortly and depending on what is discussed over the next few days with our lawyers, and we will have to apply for planning permission to demolish the villa. We have to investigate all the avenues of what we can actually do… and do our best,” she said.
Orams pointed to the sense of urgency that she and her husband now faced, saying that the British courts will be monitoring their actions within the next fortnight.
“There is a time limit on the judgment; it’s usually 14 days so we have got to move quickly. It’s moved on from Cyprus, we have to obey the court here.”
The couple, who described the judgment as ‘a blow’ in a short press statement, were also ordered to give back the property to the original owner, Meletios Apostolides, and pay him damages, however Linda Orams remained optimistic, saying that ‘life goes on’
“We will be getting on with our lives, were not going to let this get us down. Were taking it on the chin and we still have to study the judgment in full, it is 53 pages and we have to consider whether there is anything further that can be done.
“However we must comply with the judgment to the best of our ability as we are now under court instructions from England, so if we don’t attempt to comply with them we will be in contempt of court here.
“We are very happy for it to be known that we will comply as much as we can, because obviously we need the judges to know that.” she added.
Orams said she could offer no advice to the thousands of other holiday-home owners in northern Cyprus who bought land which once belonged to Greek Cypriots who fled the invasion.
“It’s obvious, we can’t give advice, people have to make their own minds up, but I’m sure a lot of foreign property owners or possible property owners will be concerned. But people must make their own minds up, regarding everything that has happened.”
Asked whether she regretted buying a house in northern Cyprus, she said she would have done nothing differently if she could turn back the clock.
“Well we wish the situation had not happened obviously, but we don’t regret our time in Cyprus. We love Cyprus and have followed all the rules and regulations and you can’t undo what’s done. All the time it’s been going on we have lead our lives as normal, we have not let it get us down and we won’t now. We will cope with it.”
Despite the high court ruling, she was unsure whether she and her husband David would try and remain in Cyprus in the future, in alternative accommodation.
“No idea, we really can only take it a step at a time. We don’t know, there is so much to think about. I love Cyprus, I hope I don’t stop coming.”
