EOP’s TMK Statement: The Greek Side Must Recognize the TMK Mechanism

The EOP, comprising the Turkish Cypriot Contractors Association, Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers Association, and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, stressed that resolving property issues via the IPC is the only legal solution until a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is achieved.

In the statement addressed to the Greek Cypriot public, the EOP highlighted that the Greek side's initiation of legal proceedings against businesspeople threatens peace on the island.

The EOP, which includes major economic organizations in Northern Cyprus, released a statement assessing recent developments in the real estate sector, emphasizing that the IPC is the address for resolving these issues.

The statement reminded that the IPC, operating in Northern Cyprus, has been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights as a legal and valid avenue for resolving property issues and emphasized that the Greek Cypriot side must comply with this.

The EOP underscored that the Greek Cypriot administration's detention of businesspeople involved in real estate investments or activities in Northern Cyprus threatens peace on the island and suggested that this move might be due to the acceleration of the IPC’s activities.

The statement detailed the legal framework regarding the formation and operations of the IPC, recalling that the European Court of Human Rights, in its Demopoulos ruling, stated that decisions on immovable property should be made by local authorities best positioned to evaluate conflicting interests.

The EOP also called on the European Union to intervene, reminding that according to Protocol 10 of the EU Accession Treaty, the EU cannot obstruct initiatives aimed at the economic development of Turkish Cypriots. The EOP urged EU members to act against the Greek Cypriot attempts to undermine the Turkish side’s economy.

"Every ten years, the Greek side tries to escalate tensions with such efforts. The property issue in Cyprus cannot be resolved by filing lawsuits and detaining individuals. The international community must recognize and intervene in the Greek Cypriot efforts to escalate tensions for internal political motivations, which have repeatedly failed," the statement concluded.