Michael Serghiou writes:

Subject: Orams Case

Dear sir/madam

It's been 35 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and perhaps you were too young at the time to remember what actually happened. I was about 5 miles from the beach where the Turkish troops landed. So, I will make some corrections, coming from an eye witness on some of your comments in your article.

Linda and David Orams paid around £160,000 for a detached house in Lapta in 2003. It's not Lapta, it's Lapithos

A Citizen of the Greek Republic of Cyprus, Mr Meletis Apostolides, There is no such thing as Greek republic of Cyprus, just the Republic of Cyprus.

When Cyprus was partitioned into North and South, then Greek Cypriots residing in the North fled to the South; yes we did. the invading Turkish forces were raping, killing and looting our homes

Property and possessions were abandoned by the fleeing refugees (90% of the property in the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus legally belongs to Greek-Cypriots). Since 1974, both the Turkish Cypriot administration in the North and the Greek Cypriot administration in the South; The TRNC is an illegal entity recognized only by Turkey. The globally recognized entity is the Republic of Cyprus. The VP position (designated for a Turkish-Cypriot) and several parliament seats have been vacant since 1963 when the Turkish-Cypriots decided to abandon their rights and by being forced by the para-military organization TMT supported by the generals in Turkey.The North Cyprus administration has ILLEGALLY issued TRNC title deeds in relation to previously occupied and owned Greek land.

As the Greek Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, they are able to resort to this arrangement between EU states. Mrs Orams appealed against the registration.

Ms Cherie Booth, also known as Blair, represented the Orams. Ms Booth reminded the court that when the republic of Cyprus joined the EU, it signed and accepted Article 1 Protocol 10, which states - We (the Greek Republic of Cyprus; IT NOT SAY THE GREEK, IT SAID THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS) have no effective control over the North - Considering Article 1 and the fact that the case is still at appeal stage, the UK and other EU states cannot interfere in the affairs of Northern Cyprus (BECAUSE THERE ARE 40,000 TURKISH TROOPS), she said. Referring to the difficulties Article 1 presented, she said, -If you don't have effective control over the North how can you implement laws? HOW CAN YOU HAVE CONTROL WHEN THE REPUBLIC IS OCCUPIED BY 40,000 TROOPS?

Since 1974, Turkey has changed the demographics of the island by bringing in settlers from Turkey and giving them property belonging to Greek-Cypriots (This in essence is ethnic cleaning) and it is a violation of the laws under the Geneva convention. 82% of the total population of the island is Greek and about 18% is Turkish. The UN passed many resolutions condemning the Turkish invasion but through it's military might, Turkey refused to do anything.

Now, some crooks may have decided to "leverage" this land and gambled that by the time a resolution comes to play, they would have already made their riches or enjoyed the land. Unfortunately for them, the time has come too soon.

Regards,

Michael Serghiou