Fikri Ataoğlu condemns GC attacks on Northern Cyprus housing sector
Date Added: 25 June 2024

Fikri Ataoğlu, Leader of the Democrat Party and Deputy Prime Minister, strongly condemned the recent hostile actions by Greek Cypriots targeting the housing sector in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Ataoğlu, who also serves as the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, issued a stern warning, stating, “If they do not stop, there will certainly be consequences.”

In a statement issued on Monday, Ataoğlu criticized the Greek Cypriot leadership for undermining efforts towards a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue. He accused them of adopting a hostile stance against the TRNC housing sector, reflecting their ongoing uncooperative behaviour.

Ataoğlu emphasized that previous attacks by Greek Cypriots have not succeeded and assured that the TRNC, in consultation and cooperation with Türkiye, will take all necessary measures to protect investors in Northern Cyprus.

“These attacks will not yield any results, just like all their previous attempts,” he asserted.

Highlighting the importance of resolving property issues through comprehensive agreements between the two states or via the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), as endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Ataoğlu criticized the Greek Cypriots for straying from these solutions. He warned that such aggressive actions would only drive the two sides further apart and hinder any potential agreement.

Ataoğlu also condemned the Greek Cypriot administration for its hypocritical approach.

While freely utilizing Turkish Cypriot properties in South Cyprus for their economic and social development, they impose embargoes and adopt hostile attitudes towards the Turkish Cypriot community.

He labelled this behaviour as unacceptable and criticized the European Union and the United Nations for their passive stance, which he believed emboldened the Greek Cypriots.

In conclusion, Ataoğlu called for an end to the attacks and urged international bodies to address the situation more proactively to foster a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus issue.