The Greek Cypriot Parliament has approved a bill to increase penalties to deter the buying and selling of Greek Cypriot former properties in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

According to the new law, the prison sentence has been increased to 5 years and the fine to 10 thousand Euros.

Reacting to this, National Unity Party General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, warned that if the law is used against TRNC citizens; it will be time to initiate punitive measures regarding the Turkish properties held in their possession by both foreigners and Greek Cypriot citizens.

The National Unity Party’s General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, has made a statement expressing concerns about the penalty-increasing draft law adopted by the Greek Cypriot Parliament to discourage the purchase and sale of former Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Hasipoğlu accuses the Greek Cypriot administration of attempting to intimidate TRNC citizens and negatively affect the construction sector in the TRNC.

He points out that Greek Cypriot leaders, MPs, and political party heads claiming a desire to find a solution with their Cypriot brothers and sisters are contradicting themselves by implementing this law.

He emphasizes that since 2005, there has been a domestic remedy available to Greek Cypriot citizens in the TRNC through the Immovable Property Commission.

He highlights the significant funding received by the commission, which has processed around 8,000 Greek Cypriot citizens’ files, with citizens relinquishing their properties in favor of the TRNC state.

Furthermore, Hasipoğlu highlights the Greek Cypriot administration’s introduction of its own Guardianship Institution, restricting the property rights of Turkish Cypriots who left property in the south.

He argues against the double standards employed by the Greek Cypriot administration and criticizes their expropriation of properties of Turkish Cypriots in the south without payment, renting them without permission and restricting their right to dispose of them.

He said that the Greek Cypriot administration’s intent is to harm the TRNC economy.

Hasipoğlu also mentions the politicization of the issue by creating personal criminal cases and arrests, which he believes deepens the divide between the two peoples.

In response to the Greek Cypriot administration’s bill, Hasipoğlu suggests that if the law is enforced against TRNC citizens, the TRNC should pass a reciprocal law in its parliament to initiate punitive measures regarding Turkish properties held by foreigners and Greek Cypriot citizens.

He argues that saying no to previous settlement plans and approaching the property issue with an “I am sovereign” stance will not be in line with cooperation efforts or coincide with the European Court of Human Rights laws.

The Greek Cypriot House of Representatives recently passed a bill to increase penalties for those involved in the buying and selling of Greek Cypriot former properties in the TRNC.

The new regulation increases the prison sentence from 2 to 5 years and the fine from 5,000 to 10,000 Euros for those who dispose of, process, or use immovable property belonging to a third party.