The General Secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu has said that the Greek Cypriot administration owed Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots an apology for depriving them from the fenced-off town of Maraş.

Hasipoğlu’s words came in reference to reports in the Greek Cypriot press that there was panic in South Cyprus concerning the sale of three hotels in the fenced-off town.

Evaluating the reports in the Greek Cypriot press, the UBP General Secretary Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu said that the sale of these hotels or the persons selling these properties should not be a cause of panic.

“If there is anyone who should be panicking from the sale of these hotels it should not be those selling them but the Greek Cypriot administration,” he said.

Hasipoğlu pointed out that the Greek Cypriot administration was solely responsible for keeping the most important resort town in the Middle East fenced-off for the past 40 years by pretending to want a solution but rejecting all settlement plans placed at the table.

“They chose to live a life of delusion; electing mayors to places they had no control over, pumping their citizens with false hope and promises. The fenced-off town of Maraş became a symbol of the inconclusive and never-ending Cyprus negotiations. Now with what face are they going to prevent people from selling their properties or returning to live under our authority? Have Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots not waited long enough for Maraş to reopen?” he asked.

Hasipoğlu pointed out that had there still been talks for a federal settlement, Maraş would have been an important element of the chapter on territory but it would have been out of the question to reopen the town for settlement or allow applications be made to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).

“That is why the Greek Cypriot administration owes an apology and a debt of compensation to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots for delaying the opening of the fenced-off town of Maraş,” he said.

The UBP General Secretary expressed the view that once Maraş is reopened to settlement this will have positive implications on the economy of Gazimağusa.

Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu also criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for failing to find a solution for Turkish Cypriots who wish to return or sell their properties in South Cyprus.

“While the IPC offers Greek Cypriots solutions to their property issues what solution is the Greek Cypriot administration offering Turkish Cypriots who left behind property in the south? Let alone obtaining title deeds, Turkish Cypriots are not allowed to return or use their properties. They have literally frozen all applications on such properties by adopting a trusteeship law which exists nowhere else in the world,” he said.