File photo. [AP]
Decades-old property disputes from Cyprus’ unresolved division are threatening UN-led reconciliation efforts, according to a Reuters report published Tuesday.
Five Greek Cypriots have been in Turkish-Cypriot custody since July 19, facing trespass charges for visiting Trikomo, a Greek-Cypriot area before the 1974 Turkish invasion, which has seen significant development. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides called the arrests an “act of piracy.”
“I’m very concerned. I fear the property issue will cause major problems in the coming months,” outgoing UN envoy Colin Stewart told Turkish-Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen.
A property developer with Israeli and Turkish citizenship has been detained by Cyprus Republic authorities for profiting from Greek-Cypriot properties in the Turkish-occupied north. In May, two Hungarians were jailed for brokering sales of Greek-Cypriot properties.
“This underlines the need for a settlement, because the only way to address the property issue is to solve the Cyprus problem,” a diplomatic source told Reuters.