Statement by President Tufan Erhürman: “The property issue requires sincerity”
President Tufan Erhürman, in a written statement issued on Saturday, emphasised that the Greek Cypriot leadership continues its efforts to instrumentalise the law for political purposes in matters relating to property. The statement of President Erhürman reads as follows:
"The Greek Cypriot leadership continues its efforts to turn the law into an instrument of politics in matters relating to property.
I repeat what I have been saying since long before assuming office: it is impossible to resolve the property issue in Cyprus through lawsuits brought by Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots, or by Turkish Cypriots against Greek Cypriots. This is because the property issue forms part of the broader political problem, as is clearly reflected in the scope of the negotiations.
The Turkish Cypriot side demonstrated, in the clearest way possible, their commitment to a comprehensive settlement, most notably in 2004 and again in 2017. It is well known that had a settlement been reached, the process of resolving the property issue would have commenced and significant progress would by now have been made.
Furthermore, whilst the Greek Cypriot side has not yet done so, the Turkish Cypriot side has established, within the framework of international law, the Immovable Property Commission, making available the remedies of restitution, exchange and compensation during the period until a comprehensive settlement is reached.
Despite this, particularly at a time when all parties have expressed their support for the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, it is unacceptable that attempts to instrumentalise the law for political purposes continue.
It is also well known that we, as the Turkish Cypriot side, are equally capable of instrumentalising the law in matters relating to property.
My call remains unchanged: let us abandon attempts to use the law as a political instrument to build political positions or create domestic political success stories through the hardship experienced by individual people.
If there is genuine sincerity, efforts should instead be focused on achieving a comprehensive settlement, which would also bring about a resolution of the property issue.
On this island, the losses are not solely those of Greek Cypriots, nor are those affected by property-related grievances exclusively Greek Cypriots. We have never endorsed approaches that target individuals and use the law as an instrument of politics by making them bear the burden of the Cyprus problem.
At the same time, no one should assume that we have no means of responding in these matters, nor should anyone fall into the mistaken belief that we will accept positions advanced on the basis of such assumptions.
The property issue is not only a problem for Greek Cypriots, but also for Turkish Cypriots – and the solution is through sincerity.
As the Turkish Cypriot side, we will continue to lend our sincere support to the efforts of Mr. Guterres whilst continuing rapidly to advance our wide-ranging preparations regarding the property issue in the absence of a comprehensive settlement."