“Play by the Rules,” Says KTİMB Head Cafer Gürcafer on Property Crisis

Speaking on Kanal T’s Güne Dair program hosted by Nazar Erişkin, Gürcafer stressed that the irregular arrangements established by migrants should have been formalized under international law — a process that has yet to be properly pursued.

Gürcafer pointed to the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) endorsement of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) as recognition that property disputes in Cyprus cannot be easily resolved. However, he lamented that the IPC has not been effectively utilized, attributing the crisis to a failure to take necessary international legal steps, saying, “We handed over our rightful seat with our own hands.”

“In a globalized world, you cannot live in isolation. You interact with international law and there is no escaping it. Therefore, you have to play by the rules,” Gürcafer emphasized.

Hope for Resolution Amid Rising Tensions

Highlighting that crises can sometimes present opportunities, Gürcafer expressed hope that the current situation will bring parties back to the negotiating table. He warned that continued conflict will deepen societal divisions and intensify anger, noting a serious need for social engineering led by the Presidency to heal the community.

KTİMB’s Active Role in Seeking Solutions

Gürcafer affirmed that KTİMB is currently the only organization actively working on resolving the property crisis, collaborating closely with the Prime Ministry and Turkey. He described ongoing legal and strategic efforts, including daily monitoring of developments and lobbying activities involving international lawyers and advisors.

He underscored confidence that with correct projects, strategies, and planning, solutions involving compensation, property swaps, and restitution via the IPC can be realized. Gürcafer revealed regular communications with the UN, EU, and relevant embassies, expressing optimism about near-future positive outcomes through international intervention.

He stressed the importance of Turkish Cypriot representatives advocating abroad to ensure the world understands their position, emphasizing that “the Cyprus Turk said ‘yes’ to every solution model the world put on the table, yet it is the Turkish Cypriots who are being penalized today.”

Call for a Dedicated Legal Unit

Gürcafer called for a specialized government unit staffed with international law experts focused solely on property issues, pointing to past examples such as direct intervention by the Presidency in the Orams case. He argued this unit should be empowered and financially supported to develop strategy and coordinate responses — something currently lacking in the TRNC administration.

On Maraş: “It Is Not a Tit-for-Tat Issue”

Addressing the controversial reopening of Maraş (Varosha), Gürcafer said that plans allowing former owners to return and live within TRNC borders should be pursued urgently, calling it a delayed but potentially beneficial project. He added that while retaliatory actions are possible, they would only increase tensions between communities, describing Cyprus as “a geographical atom bomb that desperately needs peace and a solution.”

Source: Kanal T