Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

TOP fee legal teams are set to clash in an unprecedented court case at the British High Court that is certain to have a decisive impact on the exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.

The Queen’s Bench Division has registered a ruling by the Nicosia District Court ordering a British couple to demolish a luxury villa they built on illegally bought land belonging to Meletios Apostolides, a refugee from Lapithos, near Kyrenia, and return the property to him.

This week, the rightful owner’s lawyer Constantis Candounas, served notice to Linda Orams, of Hove, Sussex, when she turned up at the Nicosia District Court to answer contempt of court charges in connection with the demolition ruling.

Enforceable

Under the EU legal regime, the British Court can make the ruling of the Cypriot court enforceable in the UK against the local assets of the guilty party if the latter refuses to comply. The High Court will consider the matter in a month’s time.

The case is entirely novel to British justice and although the High Court is not supposed to dwell on its merits, important procedural aspects are expected to emerge, probably calling for guidance from the Court of the European Communities.

Davastating

The illegal sale of Greek Cypriot refugee properties to foreigners, mainly Britons, under the occupation regime is expected to suffer a devastating blow if the British High Court upholds the Cyprus court’s decision.

In the contrary case, the reverse will happen, encouraging unbridled exploitation of refugee properties.

In this light, both sides have hired famous and expensive legal firms to fight their case, although the Orams appear to be at an advantage.

Real estate agents and illegal home owners in the occupied areas are said to have raised over Θ1m through EUPRO LTD, a fund-raising company they set up to protect their interests.

The money is mainly used to help illegal buyers who get into legal trouble with the Greek Cypriots, like Linda Orams.

There is no similar set-up on the Greek side, but Apostolides said he was hopeful of securing the necessary financial support to enable him to see his case through.

Avoided

The Cyprus Government has cautiously avoided involvement in the case.

Lawyer Constantis Candounas said that notwithstanding the virgin territory upon which they were treading, he was hopeful about the outcome.

Last summer Meletios Apostolides tried to visit his property in Lapithos accompanied by the Greek state TV channel ERT1.

Although they were duly given an escort from the north’s so called Public Information Office, when they arrived outside the house they found the "police" waiting for them, who turned them away.

On another occasion, when he was strolling in his native village of Lapithos, somebody recognised him and attacked him with a stone.

Fortunately he was with other people who helped him get away.

[Anglo]

So, there will be one more month of propaganda value in this case for the GC government. After they lose there will be the exact opposite of what they wanted to happen - a confirmation that buying this type of land is indeed safe. Seems like a highly flawed strategy to me.

P.S. I like the writer's hilarious claim that the government has cautiously avoided involvement in the case, when everyone knows that the RoC has been the instigator and driver behind these cases all along as it forms a key part of their (flawed) strategy- even to the point where the independence of the RoC judiciary has been contaminated for a higher political goal.

[Svetlana]

Hi Anglo

I regularly hear about the RoC's involvement in the Oram's case but NO-ONE has produced one shred of eveidence to back this up, to my knowledge.

Lana

[Alexios]

So, there will be one more month of propaganda value in this case for the GC government. After they lose there will be the exact opposite of what they wanted to happen - a confirmation that buying this type of land is indeed safe. Seems like a highly flawed strategy to me.

P.S. I like the writer's hilarious claim that the government has cautiously avoided involvement in the case, when everyone knows that the RoC has been the instigator and driver behind these cases all along as it forms a key part of their (flawed) strategy- even to the point where the independence of the RoC judiciary has been contaminated for a higher political goal.

Please tell us what your real interests are in the case anglo...

[Kifeas]

Hi Anglo

I regularly hear about the RoC's involvement in the Oram's case but NO-ONE has produced one shred of eveidence to back this up, to my knowledge.

Lana

Do not worry Svetlana, you won't see any evidence, simply because there isn't any involvement, at least up to this stage.

I happen to know both Kantounas (lawyer) and Apostolides (we come from the same village in the north) and I very often meet or talk on the phone with them, besides being present in one of Oram's hearings in the court. There is absolutely no RoC involvement and to the contrary, at the very initial stage of this case last year, some of them from the RoC in fact tried to discourage them due to fears that this would have created a negative climate among the TC public.

[Kifeas]

So, there will be one more month of propaganda value in this case for the GC government. After they lose there will be the exact opposite of what they wanted to happen - a confirmation that buying this type of land is indeed safe. Seems like a highly flawed strategy to me.

P.S. I like the writer's hilarious claim that the government has cautiously avoided involvement in the case, when everyone knows that the RoC has been the instigator and driver behind these cases all along as it forms a key part of their (flawed) strategy- even to the point where the independence of the RoC judiciary has been contaminated for a higher political goal.

Please tell us what your real interests are in the case anglo...

He already declared them alone. He is the ex-Iraqi information minister now working under a different name for the Turkish embassy in London.

[Alexios]

I want to hear it from the horse,s mouth:)

[Anglo]

Well, let's say that the evidence is circumstantial but who could really believe that the RoC government does not have its fingerprints all over these lawsuits - after all it is the 'national problem' which the government has total ownership of. To think that it would allow a few loose cannons to fire off all over the place with potentially huges repurcussions would be somewhat naive. Everything is carefully co-ordinated from the highest levels.

One example is the blatant mishandling of the Oram's case by the GC judge in the Nicoisa court. If that wasn't a political decision then I do not know what is. Procedural norms were cast aside so that the 'right' decision could be arrived at.

Secondly, the government altered the law on trespass so that the punishment was increased to two years - this was so that the offence could in theory be included under crimes subject to European Arrest Warrants. A move designed to assist in the prosecution of foreign buyers in the north.

[Alexios]

1.Lets say things are as you describe them.Whats wrong with that??
2.I also have my doubt as to the outcome of the case, but what do you think will happen if actually Apostolides wins the case?
3.You havent said what your interests are in this case.

[Anglo]

I want to hear it from the horse,s mouth:)

It is true that I take a passing interest in these legal matters. But despite my clandestine work for the Turkish motherland I am also interested in seeing a fair compromise in this whole matter...and you will probably say now that you don't believe me...