The 1974 Turkish Invasion and its Consequences
In 1967, a military junta seized power in Greece. The relationship between that regime and President Makarios of Cyprus was tense from the outset and became increasingly strained. President Makarios made it known that he was convinced that the Athens junta was involved in efforts to undermine his authority and policies through extremist underground organizations in Cyprus conspiring against his government and against his life.

On 15 July 1974, the Greek military junta and its Greek Cypriot collaborators carried out a coup against the democratically elected president of Cyprus. Using this criminal act as a pretext, Turkey invaded Cyprus five days later. In a two-phase invasion in July and August, and despite calls by the UN Security Council [Resolution 353 (1974)] and the quick restoration of constitutional order on the island, Turkey occupied 36,2 percent of the sovereign territory of the Republic and forcibly expelled about 180.000 Greek Cypriots from their homes. Another 20.000 Greek Cypriots, who remained in the occupied areas, were also forced to eventually abandon their homes and seek refuge in the safety of the government controlled areas. Today, fewer than 500 enclaved Greek Cypriots remain in the occupied areas.

Turkey still deprives the displaced Greek Cypriots of their right to return to their homes and properties. This has given rise to appeals to the European Court of Human Rights, which has issued major decisions on Turkey’s violations of the European Convention.

In addition to the economic devastation caused by the invasion and the forcible population movement, over 3.000 persons were killed, while some 1.400 Greek Cypriots remain missing.

Turkey’s occupation brought economic ruin to the part of the island which prior to 1974 was the richest and most developed. Poor economic conditions resulting from Turkey’s mismanagement and Turkey’s systematic colonization of the occupied areas by illegal settlers forced Turkish Cypriots to emigrate to Europe and elsewhere. The settlers currently outnumber the indigenous Turkish Cypriots by about two to one. Independent observers have documented this issue for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 1992 and again in 2003. Finally, there are still over 43.000 heavily armed troops from Turkey in the occupied areas. It should be noted that beginning with Security Council Resolution 353 of 20 July 1974, the UN has called for “an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus,” and for “the withdrawal without delay from the Republic of Cyprus of foreign military personnel present otherwise than under the authority of international agreements.”

In violation of international law and UN resolutions, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot regime have systematically attempted to eradicate the Greek cultural heritage in the occupied areas. Towns and villages have been given Turkish names, while archaeological sites, churches and cemeteries have been plundered, damaged or converted to other uses. In November 1983, Turkey instigated and endorsed a “unilateral declaration of independence” in the occupied area by the Turkish Cypriot leadership. The so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”) has not been recognized by anyone other than Turkey, which exercises virtual control over it. UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) categorically condemned this unilateral action, declared it invalid, called for its withdrawal, and called on all UN member-states not to recognize this illegal entity. The EU and other international and regional organizations have adopted similar positions. For all legal and political purposes, the international community recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus created in 1960 and its government, even though the government cannot currently exercise its authority in areas under military occupation by Turkey.

Seeking a negotiated solution
Successive rounds of UN-sponsored talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974 to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunite the country have been so far fruitless largely due to Turkey's intransigent positions.

The government of Cyprus remains committed to the Secretary-General's mission of good offices and to a sustained process that will facilitate a comprehensive settlement.

Despite the persistence of the de facto division of the island with disastrous consequences for the whole of the population whatever their ethnic origin, Cyprus is standing firm, is a modern, democratic and forward looking society being proactive and creative as a member of the EU, moving ahead for the benefit of all Cypriots themselves and of the European family as a whole.
Legal consequences (criminal and/or civil) for foreign citizens purchasing Greek Cypriot owned property in the area of Cyprus occupied by Turkey

• Foreign citizens are cautioned against purchasing property owned by Greek Cypriots in the part of the Republic of Cyprus under Turkish belligerent occupation since 1974.

• In 1974 Turkish armed forces expelled and continue to prevent more than 170,000 displaced persons from returning to their homes and to peacefully enjoy their properties. United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), call upon all states to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and not to recognize any other state in Cyprus or assist the secessionist entity in any way. As such, the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied area of Cyprus does not have jurisdiction to perform valid transfers of property ownership.

• Moreover, under the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, the use of property registered in the name of another individual, constitutes a criminal offence. The commission of this offence could lead to the issuance of a European arrest warrant, enforceable in any of the 26 EU countries, as well as an international arrest warrant.

• Article 303A of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Cyprus, as amended by Law 130(I)/2006, deals with fraudulent transactions involving another person's immovable property. Subsection (1) states that anyone who intentionally engages in such transactions with the aim of committing fraud is committing a felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison. An attempt to commit this offence is also a felony and carries a potential prison sentence of five years.

• This provision applies when a person: (a) sells, rents, conveys, or allows the use of the property to someone else, (b) advertises or promotes the property's sale, rental, mortgage, or use by another person, (c) enters into an agreement related to the property's sale, rental, mortgage, or use by another person, or (d) accepts the sale, rental, mortgage, or use of the mentioned real property.

• Moreover, the scope of application of the Criminal Code was expanded in 2006 to encompass offenses committed abroad by any person, as long as the offence is connected to immovable property located within the Republic. This includes actions like conspiracy, attempted crimes, incitement, or any actions that encourage others to commit offences linked to immovable property within the Republic. It is reminded that the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus applies to the entirety of the country’s territory, including the areas under belligerent occupation by Turkey.

• In addition, Greek Cypriot property owners may also bring civil action against usurpers of their property before the competent civil Courts of the Republic of Cyprus. The EU Court of Justice in the case of Meletis Apostolides v. David and Linda Orams declared the obligation of national courts of all EU Member States to enforce and execute such Republic of Cyprus’ Court judgments. As a result, an illegal purchase of property in the areas occupied by Turkey, could result in civil action before the Court of the Republic of Cyprus. Such rulings are enforceable against the property of the usurper at any EU Member State.

• Finally, be cautioned that the Republic of Cyprus is fully intended to initiate criminal proceedings against usurpers.



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© 2006 - 2024 Republic of Cyprus, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Canberra

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