Breakthrough agreement in territory

NO FORCED EVACUATIONS: The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides have a mutual understand on not forcing anyone out of the areas to be subjected to territorial adjustments

SPECIAL PROVISIONS: Special provisions will be implemented to allow Turkish Cypriots to continue living in areas to be returned to the Greek Cypriot constituent state, while making it possible for the Greek Cypriots, who had lived in those areas pre-1974, to return.

SPECIAL RIGHTS: Greek Cypriots, who will be living in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state, and Turkish Cypriots, who will be living in the Greek Cypriot constituent state, will have special rights and privileges on educational, cultural, religious and political issues.

Esra Aygin

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, which have started discussing the territory chapter, have already established a mutual understanding on not forcing anyone out of the areas to be subjected to territorial adjustments.

According to sources close to the negotiations, certain formulas are being discussed that would allow Turkish Cypriots to remain in the areas that may be returned to the Greek Cypriot constituent state, and at the same time, allow Greek Cypriots, who were living in those areas pre-1974, to return.

“Just like there is a right to live wherever they want, there is a right for individuals to remain wherever they want,” the source said. “It is unthinkable to force people in masses out of the areas that will be subjected to territorial adjustments.”

According to the same source, the sides have also agreed on creating ‘special status areas’ for Greek Cypriots living under Turkish Cypriot constituent state’s authority and for Turkish Cypriots living under the Greek Cypriot constituent state’s authority. In practice, special status areas mean that Turkish Cypriots, who choose to continue living in areas returned to the Greek Cypriot constituent state, and Greek Cypriots, who choose to return to areas in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state – in other words, who will be a minority in that constituent state, – will have special rights and privileges in educational, cultural, religious and political issues.

A survey on “Current Views of Displaced Persons on Return and Property Restitution” conducted among 1,605 Greek Cypriots on 29 February – 22 March 2016, found that only one fifth of Greek Cypriot refugees (or their children) want to return to their property under the Turkish Cypriot constituent state. In the case of their property being in the areas to be returned to the Greek Cypriot constituent state, the rate is one third.

The research was conducted by Djordje Stefanovic (Canada Saint Mary’s University), Charis Psaltis (Cyprus University) and Neophytos Loizides (University of Kent).