Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has said that the government had no choice but to speed up the process at the Immovable Property Commission.

The funding which is being allocated to the commission to pay compensation to Greek Cypriot property owners was among the issues on the agenda of Monday’s session of parliament.

Prime Minister Üstel on Monday defended the government’s move to secure £68 million pounds to pay compensation to Greek Cypriots who have applied to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) and whose claims were processed by the end of 2020.

The funding was secured through a property tax and a low-interest loan.

Responding to questions during Monday’s plenary; Üstel provided information about the work carried out by the IPC and the difficulties the commission faced.

“We have been left with no choice but to speed up the process,” said the prime minister, pointing out that while there were numerous more applications filed after 2020, the £68 million would fully clear around 200 claims where a decision had been reached to compensate by the end of 2020.

He added that payments will be made without further delay within two or three months in order of applications.

The IPC is recognised by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as a legal domestic remedy for property disputes on the island.