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Within the next few weeks a proposal will be submitted to the Parliament with the criteria for the management of Turkish Cypriot properties by the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties, was reported before an extraordinary session of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and Victims, which took place on Wednesday.
Specifically, the session discussed the general management of Turkish Cypriot properties in the free areas of Cyprus and in particular the issue of the concession of commercial shops and residences by the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service in Paphos.
As the Director of the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service, George Matthaiopoulos, said during the meeting of the relevant Committee, "in a few weeks a proposal will be submitted by the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties", noting that the criteria are being worked on and will be submitted soon.
At the beginning of the session, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Refugees, Christos Christofides referred to "usurious allocations" of Turkish Cypriot properties and noted that he has received complaints about the allocation of properties to people who have huge fortunes or who have two jobs.
He added that an investigation has been requested by the Comptroller General, saying that an update is expected.
Christofides also said that "in this concession of the sub-structures, some of which are of very high value, there was an undignified, bureaucratic management by the Interior Ministry and its appointees."
Christofides also said that "in this concession of the sub-structures, some of which are of very high value, there was an undignified, bureaucratic management by the Ministry of Interior and its appointees.
"This usurious management is added to a chain of events that we have seen in recent years," he added.
He added that this management is done on the basis of party criteria and on the basis of serving financial interests, noting that while there was a strategic plan for the management of T/C properties and commercial establishments since 2016, this plan was stashed away in drawers to be used as a buffet and to serve big financial interests.
Furthermore, he noted that through a letter he has invited the Audit Service to conduct an audit, which has begun.
"We will take this issue to the end. It is not possible for thousands of refugees to be wronged and served by moneyed and partisan parasites. We will wait for the results of the Audit Service and we will see how we will act."
In his statement, the Mayor of Pafos, Phaidon Faidonos, said that he is part of a four-member committee that studies and advises the Guardian of the T/C properties before deciding on any issue concerning their management.
"The procedure that is being followed is not correct", Mr. Faidonos stressed.
The Mayor of Paphos submitted his suggestions for changing the division of Turkish Cypriot properties. In particular, he suggested that there should be a lottery between beneficiaries or a bidding competition between refugees.
In addition, he mentioned by name the cases of granting properties to persons who have a large property or are related to political figures, thus excluding people who are in greater need. "Families belonging to DISY, AKEL, DIKO and EDEK are claiming the premises," he said, adding that many decisions are leaked before they are taken.
The Paphos Mayor asked why no criteria are set and why for decades there has been no draw of lots in cases of equal beneficiaries. He said in particular that "this is how the corrupt system, which ensures patronage and builds careers, makes itself comfortable."
Moreover, he said that T/C properties are worth 15 billion euros based on rough calculations of the Land Registry, adding that "the regulations for their management are completely unclear." He called for criteria to be set here and now and for a lottery to be held in front of cameras and for a list to be created, which would be officially posted for a period of 7 days for objections and then a public lottery to be held.
"The biggest scandal with the T/C properties has been built," he argued.
As the Pafos Mayor said, there is "no cooperation" with the Interior Minister, Nikos Nouris, noting that with his predecessors, Socrates Hasikos and Constantinos Petrides, the opposite was the case.
He called on the Interior Minister to move forward without further delay, stressing that order must be put in place now.
POVEC spokesman, Kyriakos Moustakas, said he participates in the advisory committees for all provinces, adding that he gets a report on the shelters and makes decisions on who is a suitable beneficiary.
"We have never participated in expediency and unscrupulousness. For us, the beneficiaries are the refugees," he said.
For her part, a representative of the Audit Office noted that her office had received a complaint from Mr Christofides, to add that the decisions and actions of the administration are expected to be taken within the framework of the relevant legislation and regulations and, where and wherever any deviation is deemed necessary, either the legislative framework will be modernized or a legal opinion will be obtained.
"Adequate justification of the cases is necessary, which will be studied," he added.
The representative of the Pancyprian Refugee Committee (PCR), Christos Nicolaou, said that there must be equality in the division of T/C properties and recommended an investigation by the Auditor General.
During the session, AKEL MP, Valentinos Fakontis, spoke of "political interference and threats" and an "anachronistic legal framework" that needs revision.
DIKO MP, Christos Senekis, stressed that the crucial thing is to correct the procedure and questioned whether there will be an audit of the illegally granted properties.
He said that there is a "party" in the process of granting T/C properties.
DPA MP, Marinos Mousiuttas, called on Mr. Faidonos to proceed with complaints to the Police, which the Mayor of Paphos disagreed with, resulting in momentary tension.
Ecologist MP, Alexandra Attalidou, said that T/C properties were being handed over in ways that raise big questions. T/C properties worth billions should be protected and managed for the benefit of those who are the victims of the Turkish invasion and occupation, namely refugees, or property owners in the occupied territories, she added.
Attalidou stressed that we need a study to register all properties, a system of criteria for who is entitled to apply. She also said that we need transparency in the examination of applications and publicity so that those who wish to file an objection can do so.
"The Parliament should assume the role of protecting these properties from those who have been neglecting them for years," Attalidou concluded.
Source: KYPE
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