Filenews 29 April 2023 - byAndreas Pibishis
New data on the ground comes the move of Greek Cypriot owners of hotel units in the fenced area of Varosha to sell their properties to a Turkish Cypriot businessman who said that he will proceed with their reopening. The issue was revealed by the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni Bakis while raising the alarm to the authorities as documents with seals of the Republic of Cyprus were also made public.
Under the headline "three hotels open in closed Varosha", the Turkish Cypriot newspaper writes (PIO source) that a Turkish Cypriot businessman stated that he bought from their Greek Cypriot owners, three hotels and two floors of apartment buildings in fenced Famagusta and in case no obstacle arises within two months, he will open them and accept reservations for 2025.
The report added that the Turkish Cypriot businessman bought the two floors of an apartment building for people who will work at the hotel. It is alleged that the businessman, whose name is not mentioned at all, has received approval from the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus for the contract for the purchase of the hotels and floors he bought and said that "he is inspired by Turkey's stance on the issue of Varosha" and the statements constantly made on the issue by Turkey's "ambassador" to the occupied areas, Metin Feyzioglu.
The Turkish Cypriot businessman also said that he turned his investments to Varosha because the "Greek Cypriot" interior ministry approved the sales and ratified the agreements. He added that he will now make all his investments in Varosha and will bring back to Varosha its old days. The businessman-investor, who said that he has been closely following the issue of Varosha for 4 years, said that he bought the hotels by holding a meeting with their owners and they got approval for it from the Ministry of Interior and the "interior ministry" of the pseudo-state.
* * *
The Department of Lands of the Republic of Cyprus has not officially submitted an agreement for the sale of hotel units in the fenced area of Famagusta.
Regarding the report today in the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Yeni Bakis, concerning statements by a Turkish Cypriot businessman that he bought three hotels in Varoshi from the Greek Cypriot owners "and the agreement was approved by the Ministry of Interior of the RoC", publishing a private sale agreement document, the same sources explained that, as it seems, "this is the appostille process".
This procedure concerns "documents of private law, e.g. wills, agreements, power of attorney, to be referred for certification to the Ministry of Justice and Public Order. It is noted that these documents must first be presented before a certifying officer for certification of the signature on the document and then at the District Administration for certification of the signature and seal of the certifying officer."
Asked why this process is taking place, the same sources said that it is used to further verify the authenticity of signatures or for one of the parties to use this document abroad.
According to information, two of the three cases of real estate allegedly purchased by the Turkish Cypriot businessman within Varoshi concern relevant applications to the "real estate committee" in the occupied areas.
They had information about contacts between Greek Cypriot hotel owners and businessmen "on the other side" and had informed the Presidential and Foreign Affairs about this, Famagusta Mayor Simos Ioannou told CNA, noting however that they did not know about the specific cases. They are awaiting more information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on these cases, he added, noting that the appostille process is done "on a document and we should keep our eyes open."
The certifying officer should have informed that the sale concerned the fenced area of Famagusta. If the sales, he said, were made through the "real estate committee", then for the Turkish Cypriot buyer the process is legal and the Greek Cypriot got the money. There is a political issue here, Ioannou noted.
"The bottom line is stop trying to sell the properties, because if it continues, the fenced area will be lost." He noted that there have been no talks for six years and unless negotiations begin to find a solution, those who "believe that they should not start talks, he claimed, should not blame those who go and sell their properties. If some people think this status quo is in our favour, it's not."
The Mayor of Famagusta said that the Municipality is also investigating the data mentioned in this publication and is trying to contact the owners of the three hotels mentioned in this publication.
CNA
