The Property Issue in the Cyprus Conflict

This project has been going on since 2005. The property issue is one of the most contentious aspects of the Cyprus problem and will probably be the most difficult to resolve in any settlement. This is because of its significance in the two Cypriot communities’ highly conflicting perspectives on the Cyprus problem, as well as its manifold socio-economic, legal, and normative implications. Despite the political stalemate, the property issue continues to evolve due to several factors such as: the ongoing construction boom in northern Cyprus; the lawsuits at the European Court of Human Rights by Greek Cypriots against Turkey, and more recently by Turkish Cypriots against the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) ; the commencement of work by an ‘Immobile Property Commission’ in the north aiming to create a local remedy to property claims by Greek Cypriots in order to prevent the claims from going to the European Court of Human Rights, Turkish Cypriots applications to RoC courts for compensation and/or return of the possession of their properties in the south; tensions created due to arrests by RoC authorities of individuals allegedly involved in the buying and/or selling Greek Cypriot properties in the north, etc. The purpose of this project is to contribute to a shared understanding of the property issue and to facilitate an informed public debate on the subject.