UK real estate agencies are illegally operating in Cyprus and are selling Greek Cypriot properties in the north.These were the assertions made by spokeswoman for the Cyprus Real Estate Agents’ Association Ms. Elli Andreou, who expressed her disappointment over the state’s lack of actions to prevent further exploitation of land in the occupied north.
“We have had many complaints that specific UK real estate agencies are operating illegally in the south and are also illegally dealing with Greek Cypriot land in the occupied areas,” Andreou said after meeting the House Commerce Committee to discuss tourist development in the north.
“We have given this information to the police, who unfortunately did not make use of it,” she added.Furthermore, the specific agencies recently requested Parliament alter legislation to enable them to operate legally in the Cyprus Republic.
“These companies are advertising properties in the north on the internet and apart from maintaining illegal agencies in the free areas, they are also asking for legal licensing from the Cyprus Republic so that they can operate legally,” Andreou explained.
She said the specific cases had been submitted to Parliament and the police, while when asked by reporters, she said she didn't want to believe that Greek Cypriots were behind the illegal agencies. The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Lefteris Christoforou said the embezzlement of Greek Cypriot properties in the north was of major concern to his committee and he called on the government to coordinate its actions in order to produce sufficient results.
“We are concerned by the fact that until today, we have had no prosecutions against those who are directly or indirectly implicated in the pure robbery of our properties,” said Mr. Christoforou. But he added that Parliament had a significant role to play too, by informing foreign governments and parliaments on the situation, so that “each Cypriot citizen, as well as every foreigner, is aware that any implication with the north is illegal”.
Finally, Mr. Christoforou expressed the opinion that a positive outcome of the Orams case – the case of a British couple who bought Greek Cypriot property in the north and is now in the midst of a legal battle at the British High Court with the land owner – would be the determining factor and significant precedent.
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