By Evie Andreou
ERAY Özer, the Turkish Cypriot who last week offered to return the land given to him by the Turkish Cypriot authorities to their rightful owners, left Nicosia disappointed on Monday and said that he reconsider his decision.
Özer and members of his family were at the offices of the daily Politis at noon to meet with the community leaders of Voni and Palekythro, and perhaps the owners of the land currently in his possession, but left after waiting for an hour for someone to show up.
“I am very sad because I realise that they did not take me seriously,” Özer said.
He added that he expected at least the two community leaders to show up.
“They agreed to come. I waited there for an hour and they didn’t come. No, they did not take me seriously,” Özer repeated and added that he is now reconsidering his decision to return the title deeds to the land.
Özer had announced last Wednesday in comments published by the daily Afrika that he was looking for the owners of the land given to him in 2004, without wanting anything in return.
The land, 4.5 donums (6,021 square metres) in Voni and 9.25 donums (12,377 square metres) in Palekythro were given to him in exchange of his inherited land in Epiho village in the occupied north, of around 60 donums of land (around 80,280 square meters), because it is situated within a military zone and has been retained for use by the Turkish army for many years.
The daily Politis had issued an open invitation to anyone interested to meet Özer at their offices.
Palekithro community leader Irini Gavriel said that she found no reason why she should attend the meeting, since she herself could not identify any of the properties and that anyone interested should search their title deeds through the state’s land registry.
Voni community leader Giorgos Antoniou said that the community council was not invited by Politis and that he contacted the daily and asked to meet with Özer at another time because he could not be present at yesterday’s meeting.
“We believe that this is a very commendable action and we want to meet him and have dinner with him and talk about our village,” Antoniou said.
He said that after Özer’s announcement some people called him, but he too said that it is not easy to define the owners of the land and that only the land registry can shed light on the matter.
“We thank him and luckily there are people like him. His action is giving out a very positive message; he recognises the right of property of his fellow compatriots,” Antoniou said and added that Özer’s action is commendable.
“It is about time after 40 years for hate to be replaced with peace gestures such as these,” Antoniou said.
He added that no matter if the owners are found, they salute Özer’s initiative.
“The land is not going to be taken by anyone, it is still occupied, but it is his gesture we applaud,” Antoniou said and added that they still want to contact him and thank him for his initiative.
