By Serdar Atai
"Don't be hesitant or afraid. Our state is determined to back those who make investments on Greek Cypriot owned immovable property." "There isn't any Turkish Cypriot left who is not affiliated with Greek Cypriot immovable property in one way or another." "Now, it's time to develop Greek Cypriot immovable property in the Morphou and Karpasia regions to increase our bargaining power at the negotiation table."
THESE are just some of the latest statements by the leading political elite in the north of Cyprus , illustrating the official viewpoint with respect to Greek Cypriot immovable property left in the north of the island. Looting has emerged as a virtue since the end of the war in 1974. People who practise it are praised and respected for being skilled or born talented. The ones who avoid looting, and insist on abiding by the rule of international law, are humiliated as morons. The atmosphere created fits in well with unlawful and unprincipled personalities. As well as this extraordinary drive in looting, the political regime is also shaped by what I call this ‘Tyranny of Looting and Lies'. The politicians repeatedly misuse their authority by manipulating and buying up public opinion. They use all the dirty methods of clientelism and cronyism through encouragement of looting to serve their ultimate goal of vote-hunting and staying in power.
It is quite easy to observe the ferocious impact of this syndrome of ‘looting and lies' in every sphere of daily life. Bring scientists in to test this, with research on the genome mapping of Turkish Cypriots, and you shouldn't be surprised if they identify ‘looting and lies' genes in the community.
The widespread practice of looting started to accelerate in 1996 when the Immovable Property Law was unprecedently amended to allow illegal reproduction of title deeds for Greek Cypriot immovable property. From that time onwards, the current users, Turkish Cypriot and Turks from Turkey , were liberated freely to enjoy stolen properties.
The second and more detrimental massive attack came just after the introduction of the famous Annan plan. The Annan plan consisted of legally disputed provisions for resolving the stalemate on properties. For the sake of a political settlement, it was really hard to digest its critical arrangements derogatory to fundamental human rights.
One of these foresaw: “When a current user makes a significant improvement on a displaced person’s land, the current user will have the right to a title deed given that the displaced original owner is compensated for the value of his/her land.”
Another was even more controversial for existing laws of human rights. It reiterated: “If a solution is reached, a displaced owner will be able to regain control of only one third of the immovable propery he/she owns.”
Were the well known brokers of the plan not aware of the fact that “you’ll get one third” has the same meaning in both Turkish and Greek languages, equivalent to “you’ll get nothing” and it is a proverb used to play around with the person you are addressing?
The message was received differently but predictably in the two communities. Greek Cypriots voted against the plan. And in north, not only Turkish Cypriots and Turks but also Brits, Israelis, Germans and other nationals rushed to exploit the stolen properties of Greek Cypriots.
The so-called ‘economic miracle’ and the sudden rise in per capita income in the north, which the politicians are so proud of, is purely the outcome of multiple exploitation of Greek Cypriot property.
What about the implications? First of all, easy money is turning the socio-economic setup upside down. And it has brought together the rapid collapse of ethical and aesthetic values in addition to cultural erosion. The system of values, behavioural patterns and perceptions of most people living in the north drastically changed as a result of this fast transformation process. Turkish Cypriots who were deliberately taken out of production by Turkey and encouraged in uncontrolled consumption lost their self confidence, self esteem and self respect. The overall picture is like Emile Durkheim’s theory of “social anomie”.
Of course, respectful individuals of the community, sharing the values and principles of Europe , did not accept this exploitation. But they feel heavily discriminated against because they have to face the reality of the sharply widening financial and social gap between themselves, who abide by international law, and the others who do not. For the same reason, there is unfair competition between the enterprises who prefer to run their businesses with limited clean funds, on one hand, and the ones on the other who maximise profits in fictitous estate or construction sectors and redirect their funds back into the real sectors of the economy.
The Greek Cypriot property rights violations taking place in the north are generally evaluated in a one-sided way within the context of personal injuries; pecuniary or non-pecuniary damages of Greek Cypriot owners only. What is usually forgotten is the way this is hitting the honest Turkish Cypriots who are caught in the crossfire. No doubt, these violations against different parties are not contradictory. They are completely complementary. All displaced Cypriot property owners, whether Turkish or Greek Cypriot, who feel the lack of just satisfaction, plus other Turkish Cypriots, who are not displaced, but are exposed to these indirect sufferings or losses because of the unforgiveable administrative neglect, ought to build a coalition and make their voice heard together by outsiders.
Coming back to the main story, honest Turkish Cypriots with human dignity have to put up with all of the malpractices of Turkey and its local subordinate administration that is becoming unbearable for them day by day. The question is: “How many people left in the north of Cyprus are able to defend the ethics of their personal behaviours under these conditions?” Very few if we are honest.
All our leaders talk about their great ideal of “mono communal peace and harmony”. How on earth can an individual with morality, rationality and a bit of courage give consent to the socio-economic injustices produced by the stolen property transfers?
Furthermore without feeling any embarrasment or shame, the authorities in north offer a “global exchange of property”, a quick fix solution with only compensations and without giving the right of return to any displaced person. It’s Turkey ’s preference as well and fits in with their idea of ethnically cleansed and partitioned provinces in Cyprus . Additionally, “not the beneficiaries only but the community as a whole pay all compensations” approach is the most favoured option of the current administration in the north. They steal and vacuum the undeserved wealth, and everybody in the community will be obliged to pay. An amazing attitude, full of justice, intelligence and conscience. Clap your hands please!
Let’s take one step further and discuss Europe ’s shared values and principles to enlighten the dark corners on this debate. Who can deny that Turkish Cypriots are closer to Europeans in terms of values and principles than the Turks from Turkey – thanks, most likely, to British rule in the past? One can criticise the Brits for their tricky policies and divide and rule games in Cyprus . But there can be only a few who can disagree with the historic truth that the codes of ethics and civics were established by the British. All of us in Cyprus were raised by our parents or grandparents in our family circles, and taught by our teachers at schools, with the assumption of these ethical patterns and civic codes. The number one objective was to enable Cypriot children and young people to show respect for the rights and freedoms of others and the rule of law.
However, the International Community just looks on while the lawbreakers in northern Cyprus do not comply with European standards, rules or regulations. “The Acquis is suspended in the north and the EU cannot exercise effective control over the territory of northern Cyprus ” should not be an adequate excuse. The EU doesn’t have the luxury of exempting itself from further engagement in the property question. Paradoxically, it has, so far, turned a blind eye and adopted a silent partner role in order not to offend Turkey in its bilateral relationship. At whose expense? At the expense of a limited number of honest Turkish Cypriots who struggle to remain attached to EU values and principles. Never forget that despite all obstacles we, Turkish Cypriots, are citizens of the EU demanding the just and humane treatment afforded to any other EU citizen.
Does the EU have any leverage to intervene? In my opinion, it does. It is possible to stop and reverse the negative consequences of property violations in Cyprus . Turkey is one of the countries who have signed up to and ratified the European convention on human rights and protection of fundamental freedoms. It has binding liabilities arising from these and from similar charters already adopted. Inconsistency or failure to act in accordance with the articles of the conventions and charters must result in the indictment of political representatives before international tribunals. Those in power in Turkey and their extensions in the north must be given an ultimatum in this direction. Apart from this, inhabitants in the north of Cyprus regardless of their ethnic origins must be strictly reminded, and forced to acknowledge, that whoever exploits stolen properties, they themselves in the near future, their children or grandchildren in a medium or long term, will definitely be held accountable individually for the undeserved incomes they’ve capitalised. The time has come to wake people up from their dream world and remind them about the truth. Otherwise, we’ll not be in a position to talk about the ‘Ethics of Peace’ any more.
It is the EU’s urgent responsibility to stand up and enforce change in the north of Cyprus to protect its own European values and principles before it is too late. The British are twice as responsible because of their positive contributions in the past for spreading the seeds of Western civilisation. The EU sets the threshold of values and principles of any partner country. It should do the same for northern Cyprus . The EU’s credibility and trustworthiness will be tested at this critical turning point. To what extent are they really serious about the rule of law? People of Cyprus have a keen interest in a modernised sensitive peacebuilding process rather than a careless obsolete peacemaking effort that will stay on paper and fail the day after.
It’s also the right time for US as the world’s leading power to say the final word. Bill Clinton’s period in the office brought peace to Northern Ireland a decade ago. Why not Obama as his successor follow his footprints for Cyprus ?
n Serdar Atai is a young Turkish Cypriot businessman based in Famagusta . He is a member of the Cyprus Friends of Nature, the German Cypriot Forum, the Cyprus EU Association and the Rights & Freedoms Association.
