Hasipoğlu: Greek Cypriot Parliament’s Criminal Legislation Harms Peace Process

Reacting to the new legislation, which raises prison sentences from 2 to 5 years and fines from €5,000 to €10,000, Hasipoğlu claimed that the Greek Cypriot side aims to intimidate TRNC citizens and negatively impact the country’s construction sector.

He reminded that since 2005, the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in the TRNC has been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as an effective legal remedy. "Our state has resolved approximately 8,000 applications from Greek Cypriot citizens and has paid nearly £511 million in compensation," he noted.

Hasipoğlu accused the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) of double standards, pointing out that nearly 450,000 dönüms of Turkish Cypriot property in the south have been expropriated, leased, or confiscated. "Should we now start imposing criminal measures on Greeks who occupy or operate on Turkish Cypriot properties?" he asked, calling on the Council of Europe to intervene against this initiative.

Stressing that such punitive measures will complicate efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, Hasipoğlu criticized the GCA for rejecting past solution plans while now attempting to unilaterally settle the property dispute.

"If the Greek Cypriot side proceeds with enforcing this law, the TRNC Parliament may also introduce reciprocal measures against Greek Cypriots using Turkish Cypriot properties," he warned, emphasizing that they will closely monitor the situation.