Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

This man owns Larnaca Airport
By Simon Bahceli

This article was written in 2005 but three years on, we now know that the man actually owns a little insignificant and abandoned corner of Larnaca airport!

Do we indeed sir, or should I say, your lowness. You are not connected tomy aunty liz in any way.
Is this by one of your records from the GC land registry which was never doctored. It is as is from 1571. You theiving git.

A few weeks ago I even had the lot number, you'll find just a few meters of fence on his land that cuts off the airport area in one of its corners! So much for the infamous TC mega-landowner! Why do you think he's gone all quiet?

[Kikapu]

You do not negotiate with the thief for something that is rightfully and lawfully yours.

With that mentality, Cyprus problem can be solved in 1 hour flat madam.

Excactly.
The mentality of the thief, though, is different.

Is that 1 earth hour or 1 Uranus hour?

Talking of Thiefs, didn't GC goverment offer the TC who owns part of Larnaca Airport 20,000 pounds - You will find thats exactly the formula the TRNC property commision is using. Whats the old saying - whats good for the goose is good for the gander dearest.

What year was that offer made, YFred, the 20,000 (Cyprus Pounds) and for how much land are we talking about.? Did anyone tell you, that property prices on the average go up, so that what was sold yesterday may be less than if it was sold today. I know the Annan Plan had it, that the GC's would be paid in 1974 prices for their land in the north, which would have been peanuts to what they are worth today, and who was going to benefit from the difference, not the legal owner of the property, but the illegal "owner".

This is the report regarding Larnaca airport. There is another report about how much he was offered. See how GC government treated his claim. Confirms my other comment.

This man owns Larnaca Airport
By Simon Bahceli
(archive article - Saturday, June 4, 2005)
IN A NEW twist to the ongoing property dispute, a Turkish Cypriot yesterday claimed ownership of a large portion of the land on which Larnaca airport is built and said he would be seeking up to £100 million worth of compensation, plus restitution of his lands.

Huseyin Helvacioglu, a refugee from Larnaca now living in Kyrenia, told the bi-communal weekly publication Dialogue, “They built Larnaca airport without my permission.

“Now I hear they are entering a second stage of building. I won’t let this happen. The land belongs to my brother and myself, and we want it back”.

It was unclear yesterday whether Helvacioglu had applied to begin legal proceedings against the Republic, but if he does, he will become the first Turkish Cypriot living in the north to seek compensation for properties expropriated by the state.

Helvacioglu’s claim comes in the wake of what is seen in the north as a legal onslaught against those who have invested in abandoned Greek Cypriot properties in the north.

Indeed, Helvacioglu’s statement warned yesterday that it was because of the flurry of lawsuits brought by Greek Cypriots that he had decided to go public about what he termed “illegal expropriation by the state”.

“For years we waited patiently for the property issue to be resolved through a settlement. But that didn’t happen, and now through individual cases they are taking Turkish Cypriots to court,” he said.

He added: “[Titina] Loizidou received one million dollars for her house in Kyrenia whereas, in the place where Larnaca airport was built, I have 92 donums of land right by the sea. Even if I was to get £100 million in compensation…it still wouldn’t be enough”.

Helvaciolglu said he was unaware his lands had been expropriated by the Cyprus government until after April 2003 when crossing were opened between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities for the first time in decades.

“After the checkpoints opened, I went to visit my land and I was shocked. I was angry, but decided it would be appropriate to wait for a while. Then I found out the Greek Cypriot side had agreed with a French company to carry out the building for the second stage of the airport on a ‘build-operate-transfer’ basis. I want to ask them whose property they are transferring.

“As the land owner, without my knowledge and approval, there can be no bargaining over my land. This is contrary to my human rights and I am warning them: The moment they put even one nail onto my land, they will find themselves in court”.

Lawyer and former legal advisor for the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties Harris Kyriakides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday some Turkish Cypriots had never been compensated for lands and buildings that had since 1974 been expropriated by the government.

“There are procedures whereby people have to be notified if their property is to be expropriated. But in 1991, when the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties law was passed, the guardian could then accept appropriations on behalf of Turkish Cypriots.

“The argument was that Turkish Cypriots living in the north could not be contacted, and were not allowed by the north’s regime to cross to the south. In some cases money was deposited on behalf of Turkish Cypriots, but in other cases the requisition process was not finalised, and no money was paid”.

Kyriakides said Turkish Cypriots who never received compensation for lands now being used for government projects should claim compensation from the state.

“Unless he [Helvacioglu] takes the government to court, he will not get any compensation until after a settlement,” he advised.

Sources in the north said yesterday Helvacioglu had earlier applied for compensation for his land from the Republic, but that had received no reply.

Kyriakides said yesterday he believed it was time the guardian law was dropped as freedom of movement between the two communities allowed Turkish Cypriots to be notified if their properties were to be expropriated for such projects.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

YFred,

If the airport was built in 1974 and that was the going price for his land, then that's what is owed to him plus interest, when there is a settlement. Legal governments does not need permission from the owners of the property in any country to take away their land to build anything that serves the public. It is called "Eminent Domain", but they are obliged to pay the owner the market price for his property, which the RoC appears to have put aside for the legal owner to be paid when the time comes. Unfortunately for Helvacioglu, he is the financial victim of the 1974 events and he will be the loser financially. The legal governments do not need a permission to build any public projects on your property whether you like it or not. You can't even sue them, therefore, Helvacioglu's suit will go nowhere I'm afraid. The 1974 events cost him a lot of money, had he still owned the land today where the Larnaca airport is. His land now belongs to the RoC sorry to say, but that's the way it is..

[YFred]

You do not negotiate with the thief for something that is rightfully and lawfully yours.

With that mentality, Cyprus problem can be solved in 1 hour flat madam.

Excactly.
The mentality of the thief, though, is different.

Is that 1 earth hour or 1 Uranus hour?

Talking of Thiefs, didn't GC goverment offer the TC who owns part of Larnaca Airport 20,000 pounds - You will find thats exactly the formula the TRNC property commision is using. Whats the old saying - whats good for the goose is good for the gander dearest.

What year was that offer made, YFred, the 20,000 (Cyprus Pounds) and for how much land are we talking about.? Did anyone tell you, that property prices on the average go up, so that what was sold yesterday may be less than if it was sold today. I know the Annan Plan had it, that the GC's would be paid in 1974 prices for their land in the north, which would have been peanuts to what they are worth today, and who was going to benefit from the difference, not the legal owner of the property, but the illegal "owner".

This is the report regarding Larnaca airport. There is another report about how much he was offered. See how GC government treated his claim. Confirms my other comment.

This man owns Larnaca Airport
By Simon Bahceli
(archive article - Saturday, June 4, 2005)
IN A NEW twist to the ongoing property dispute, a Turkish Cypriot yesterday claimed ownership of a large portion of the land on which Larnaca airport is built and said he would be seeking up to £100 million worth of compensation, plus restitution of his lands.

Huseyin Helvacioglu, a refugee from Larnaca now living in Kyrenia, told the bi-communal weekly publication Dialogue, “They built Larnaca airport without my permission.

“Now I hear they are entering a second stage of building. I won’t let this happen. The land belongs to my brother and myself, and we want it back”.

It was unclear yesterday whether Helvacioglu had applied to begin legal proceedings against the Republic, but if he does, he will become the first Turkish Cypriot living in the north to seek compensation for properties expropriated by the state.

Helvacioglu’s claim comes in the wake of what is seen in the north as a legal onslaught against those who have invested in abandoned Greek Cypriot properties in the north.

Indeed, Helvacioglu’s statement warned yesterday that it was because of the flurry of lawsuits brought by Greek Cypriots that he had decided to go public about what he termed “illegal expropriation by the state”.

“For years we waited patiently for the property issue to be resolved through a settlement. But that didn’t happen, and now through individual cases they are taking Turkish Cypriots to court,” he said.

He added: “[Titina] Loizidou received one million dollars for her house in Kyrenia whereas, in the place where Larnaca airport was built, I have 92 donums of land right by the sea. Even if I was to get £100 million in compensation…it still wouldn’t be enough”.

Helvaciolglu said he was unaware his lands had been expropriated by the Cyprus government until after April 2003 when crossing were opened between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities for the first time in decades.

“After the checkpoints opened, I went to visit my land and I was shocked. I was angry, but decided it would be appropriate to wait for a while. Then I found out the Greek Cypriot side had agreed with a French company to carry out the building for the second stage of the airport on a ‘build-operate-transfer’ basis. I want to ask them whose property they are transferring.

“As the land owner, without my knowledge and approval, there can be no bargaining over my land. This is contrary to my human rights and I am warning them: The moment they put even one nail onto my land, they will find themselves in court”.

Lawyer and former legal advisor for the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties Harris Kyriakides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday some Turkish Cypriots had never been compensated for lands and buildings that had since 1974 been expropriated by the government.

“There are procedures whereby people have to be notified if their property is to be expropriated. But in 1991, when the guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties law was passed, the guardian could then accept appropriations on behalf of Turkish Cypriots.

“The argument was that Turkish Cypriots living in the north could not be contacted, and were not allowed by the north’s regime to cross to the south. In some cases money was deposited on behalf of Turkish Cypriots, but in other cases the requisition process was not finalised, and no money was paid”.

Kyriakides said Turkish Cypriots who never received compensation for lands now being used for government projects should claim compensation from the state.

“Unless he [Helvacioglu] takes the government to court, he will not get any compensation until after a settlement,” he advised.

Sources in the north said yesterday Helvacioglu had earlier applied for compensation for his land from the Republic, but that had received no reply.

Kyriakides said yesterday he believed it was time the guardian law was dropped as freedom of movement between the two communities allowed Turkish Cypriots to be notified if their properties were to be expropriated for such projects.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

YFred,

If the airport was built in 1974 and that was the going price for his land, then that's what is owed to him plus interest, when there is a settlement. Legal governments does not need permission from the owners of the property in any country to take away their land to build anything that serves the public. It is called "Eminent Domain", but they are obliged to pay the owner the market price for his property, which the RoC appears to have put aside for the legal owner to be paid when the time comes. Unfortunately for Helvacioglu, he is the financial victim of the 1974 events and he will be the loser financially. The legal governments do not need a permission to build any public projects on your property whether you like it or not. You can't even sue them, therefore, Helvacioglu's suit will go nowhere I'm afraid. The 1974 events cost him a lot of money, had he still owned the land today where the Larnaca airport is. His land now belongs to the RoC sorry to say, but that's the way it is..

You missed the whole point. The Hypoctitical side of it is that on one side ROC claim that the annan plan was wrong about 1974 prices and yet they offered it to this man. As well as how he was treated by the so called GC property commision. Everything else is legal mambo jumbo. That's why we pay lawyers for.

[Viewpoint]

Let everyone sue every one else its not a one way street.

[Oracle]

Let everyone sue every one else its not a one way street.

It's only one way for you Turks ... out and back to Anatolia (if you are lucky )

[YFred]

Let everyone sue every one else its not a one way street.

It's only one way for you Turks ... out and back to Anatolia (if you are lucky )

hhhssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[Oracle]

The soothing sound of another Turk back on his way to the East ....

[Kikapu]

YFred,

If the airport was built in 1974 and that was the going price for his land, then that's what is owed to him plus interest, when there is a settlement. Legal governments does not need permission from the owners of the property in any country to take away their land to build anything that serves the public. It is called "Eminent Domain", but they are obliged to pay the owner the market price for his property, which the RoC appears to have put aside for the legal owner to be paid when the time comes. Unfortunately for Helvacioglu, he is the financial victim of the 1974 events and he will be the loser financially. The legal governments do not need a permission to build any public projects on your property whether you like it or not. You can't even sue them, therefore, Helvacioglu's suit will go nowhere I'm afraid. The 1974 events cost him a lot of money, had he still owned the land today where the Larnaca airport is. His land now belongs to the RoC sorry to say, but that's the way it is..

You missed the whole point. The Hypoctitical side of it is that on one side ROC claim that the annan plan was wrong about 1974 prices and yet they offered it to this man. As well as how he was treated by the so called GC property commision. Everything else is legal mambo jumbo. That's why we pay lawyers for.

No YFred, I did not miss any points.! In 1974, the RoC took possession of Helvacioglu land under a legal statute that is available in every country, "Eminent Domain", albeit it may be under a different name, that allows legal "confiscation" of one's land, but it is not stolen because it is paid for it at the time it was acquired. In Helvacioglu case, his money was put aside in 1974 as I understand it, but because he was not available to be paid in person, and due to the 1974 events, it made it that much more difficult to do so, therefore his money was saved for him plus interest. He really does not have any recourse, and if he is not careful, these "shark" lawyers will take away the $$££ 20,000 $$££ for their legal fees leaving him with nothing at all.

What the Annan Plan tried to do, was to create a situation where all the refugees properties, TC's and GC's, that the values of the properties froze in 1974 and that's what should be paid to the legal owners, which was peanuts. People did not sell their properties in 1974 and they were not legally "confiscated" under a legal authority of "Eminent Domain". What AP was proposing was nothing more than a Highway Robbery of huge magnitude. I would like to but a property today at 1974 prices, wouldn't you YFred, but are you willing to sell your property to someone else today, at 1974 prices.? You really do not need to answer my last question. It was a rhetorical question.!.!

[CopperLine]

It's just North of Famagusta on the coast.

There is a TRNC property commision you can apply to, it's just not promoted that well. If you contact the TRNC representitve in Trafalgar SQ they will have the details on where and how to apply.
There has been some positive results recently.

There is no such thing as "trnc" property commission.

Turkey established some property commission in the territory of Republic of Cyprus that they illegally occupy in order to try to delay the cases against her in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This Turkish property commission will only give to you peanuts.

Take your case directly to the ECHR.

There IS such a thing a the TRNC Property Commission. It has been established precisely in response and as a direct requirement of previous ECHR cases. So Piratis' advice is dead wrong, in fact if you tried to go direct to ECHR as he suggests they'd simply reject your application because you had not 'exhausted local remedies' i.e, had not at least tried to get remedy through the Property Commission.

Piratis' 'advice' is as reckless as it is misleading. Plus ca change ...

[Kifeas]

It's just North of Famagusta on the coast.

There is a TRNC property commision you can apply to, it's just not promoted that well. If you contact the TRNC representitve in Trafalgar SQ they will have the details on where and how to apply.
There has been some positive results recently.

There is no such thing as "trnc" property commission.

Turkey established some property commission in the territory of Republic of Cyprus that they illegally occupy in order to try to delay the cases against her in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). This Turkish property commission will only give to you peanuts.

Take your case directly to the ECHR.

There IS such a thing a the TRNC Property Commission. It has been established precisely in response and as a direct requirement of previous ECHR cases. So Piratis' advice is dead wrong, in fact if you tried to go direct to ECHR as he suggests they'd simply reject your application because you had not 'exhausted local remedies' i.e, had not at least tried to get remedy through the Property Commission.

Piratis' 'advice' is as reckless as it is misleading. Plus ca change ...

Is it???

Well, let's clarify things. First of all, the said “property commission” is not regarded by the ECtHR as a "TRNC" one, but one set up by Turkey. This is as far as the ECtHR is concerned, for the simple fact that the defendant for the property and human rights violations of the GCs, is Turkey! You Turks may call it anything you wish, but for the court and the CoE, "TRNC" is only the acronym for a subordinate to Turkey regime without any legal standing on this matter. Therefore, the accurate description should be "Turkish Property commission," since for the court is only a body under Turkey's jurisdiction. Turkey is the member country of the CoE, and not any "TRNC."

Last but not least, the court will not reject any GC applicant to it, and refer them instead to the property commission, simply because it has not yet decided on its acceptance of the "property commission" as a legitimate and proper "internal remedy” mean. It is still in the evaluation process. Those GCs that applied to the PC have done so on a personal and voluntary basis, and not because they were referred to it by the ECtHR.

One may only “sympathize” with Copperline's agony to have the issue diverted from the court to the said commission, simply because he feels this is a way for Turkey to protract the return of GC properties and the payment of compensations further down the road, and alleviate Turkey for the condemnations by the court, but in this case, like in many others, he is misinforming the forum.