The Cypriot Police has issued international arrest warrants against four Turkish businessmen related to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot land in Turkish occupied Lefkoniko, its Mayor, Pieris Gypsiotis, told CNA on Tuesday.
He said that the Municipality and himself personally gathered evidence of land usurpation in Lefkoniko. Specifically, a very large project has been built on various plots within Lefkoniko, consisting of 10 floors and 750 apartments.
“It is the first project built and advertises that it will be delivered in the coming months while there are signs for new projects outside Lefkoniko,” said Gypsiotis.
He said that he reported the case to the CID Nicosia, where he submitted all the evidence. According to the evidence, the companies involved are Turkish while Gypsiotis stated that he identified the owners of these companies, submitted names, and four international arrest warrants were issued against four Turks.
These actions were taken four months ago, he added.
Due to the seriousness of the matter, he said, a symposium was held last Saturday with the participation of the Greek Cypriot negotiator and legal experts, where a presentation and analysis of many issues concerning land usurpation in the Turkish occupied areas took place. Practical issues concerning refugee rights, land encroachments, and property rights were highlighted, attracting significant interest from the entire refugee community.
“We are glad that a decision was issued last week against the two Hungarians because this serves as a deterrent for our complaints. We will not solve the Cyprus problem on our own, but there is a fear among investors, buyers, and intermediaries regarding these issues,” said Lefkoniko’s Mayor.
He added that he knows the names of the Turkish citizens who, if they travel within the EU, will be immediately arrested wherever they go and extradited to Cyprus because these warrants are issued by courts of the Republic of Cyprus, meaning they will have to face trial in Cyprus.
Two women from Hungary were sentenced on Friday to prison for 2.5 years and 15 months, respectively, after pleading guilty to several charges relating to advertising and promoting the sale of homes built on Greek Cypriot land in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.
It was also stated that, since 1974, following the Turkish invasion, a large part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus has been under the occupation of Turkey. As a result of this occupation, the Republic of Cyprus is unable to exercise effective control over all of its territory. However, this does not nullify the sovereign rights the Republic retains over the entirety of the country.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.
Also read: Plenary amends penalties for property usurpation in occupied areas
Source: CNA
