Plans to Demolish Parts of Varosha
Source: North Cyprus News | Online News for North Cyprus
President Ersin Tatar said that the long term goal is to demolish and rebuild some buildings in Varosha (Maraş), while others will be renovated and put to use for the national economy, Yeniduzen reported.
Tatar mentioned that some buildings in the 3.5% of Varosha that have been opened to visitors will be demolished.
Four years after part of Varosha was opened for visits, Tatar spoke to the Anadolu Agency (AA), again stating that their long-term goal is to rebuild or renovate certain buildings to contribute to the economy. He also claimed that the area is already benefiting the economy.
Tatar further explained that he hopes the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) will help resolve issues related to the area. However, he pointed out that most of Cyprus was turned into foundation (vakıf) land after 1571, and that in 1878, the British violated an agreement by giving foundation property in Varosha to the Greek Cypriots. The Cyprus Foundations Administration (EVKAF) is currently working on this issue and has objections to the transfer of foundation properties. He added that the judiciary is taking this into account, and he hopes for solutions in this way.
*To resolve the long-standing disputes over these properties, in 1960, the British government provided £1.5 million to the Turkish Cypriot community as full and final compensation for any claims regarding the vakıf lands. This agreement was part of the broader settlement leading to Cyprus’s independence and was intended to close the issue of claims over these lands.
However, despite the compensation agreement, disputes over vakıf properties continue to resurface in discussions, especially in the context of Varosha (Maraş) and broader property rights on the island. Some Turkish Cypriots argue that the British improperly transferred vakıf lands during their rule, particularly to Greek Cypriots, and that these transfers were not legitimate despite the 1960 settlement. [LGC News Ed.]
Yeniduzen
The original article: North Cyprus News | Online News for North Cyprus .
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