EU Court Back Cyprus Ruling on Orams Case

Description:

The European Court of Justice on Tuesday upheld a ruling by the Cypriot Court in Nicosia, regarding a Greek Cypriots right to reclaim land in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus.
 

This follows lengthy legal proceedings against UK citizens Mr and Mrs Orams who purchased land in Northern Cyprus and built a villa on it.
 
The land belonged to Greek Cypriot, Mr Apostolides who was forced to leave the land and flee during the invasion in 1974.
 

The Cypriot Court in Nicosia ruled that the villa must be demolished and the land returned to Mr Apostolides the Greek Cypriot owner.
 

It is unlikely that the EU's ruling can be enforced as the land is under Turkish Cypriot control, however is does mean that Mr Apostolides will be able to pursue a claim for compensation in a UK court.
 

This case could open the flood gates as hundreds more Greek Cypriots were forced to flee during the Turkish invasion in 1974.
 

Many foreign investors, particularly Britons have invested in property in Northern Cyprus, despite legal ownership being in doubt.
 

One of the main stumbling blocks to a unified Island has been the property/land disputes which date back to the invasion in 1974.