Arabacıoğlu: No Greek Cypriot Was Ever Allowed to Sell Property Allocated for Use

In a statement shared on social media, Arabacıoğlu referenced the period following the 1974 Peace and Freedom Operation, emphasizing that both community leaders had agreed on the mutual relocation of populations—Turkish Cypriots living in the south moving north, and Greek Cypriots living in the north moving south upon request.

He noted that those Greek Cypriots who chose to remain in the north were to be granted freedom of education and worship. “Turkish Cypriots who moved north became property owners in the north after signing waivers for the properties they had left behind in the south,” Arabacıoğlu explained.

He further elaborated that Turkish Cypriots who received property through equivalency, allocation, or veteran points, in some cases sold these properties for profit. Meanwhile, the majority of the properties left in the north were allocated to Greek Cypriots who had moved south, to be used by them under lease arrangements as part of their rehabilitation.

“Some Turkish-owned properties were expropriated for public use, with their value deposited in bank accounts, to be returned to the rightful owners following a comprehensive settlement,” Arabacıoğlu added.

He concluded his statement by firmly rejecting Arıklı’s implications: “No Greek Cypriot was ever granted permission to sell any property that had merely been allocated to them for use.”