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Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....
   
Well I got my computer back today so now am able to look at last weeks news for you. There will be no Cyprus Today until the new year now, so make the most of this.Remember that last April, when Anne & Reece Mahoney were murdered in their home, well this week a 17 year old Turkish lad, was sentenced to life imprisonment, after a unanimous guilty verdict, in the Kyrenia court.The governments controversial new property bill, which provides for the possible return of former Greek Cypriot properties abandoned in the North, became law this week after being rushed through parliament. There is a general opinion that the law has only been forced through, despite opposition objections, to satisfy the European Court of Human Rights who maintain that the current TRNC Properties Compensation Commission did not allow for the possibility that properties could be returned. The government is adamant that the law excludes, for immediate return, properties for which TRNC title deeds have been issued. T
hese properties can only be addressed for compensation together with an island settlement agreement. Confusing to say the least, but personally I feel comforted by the fact that we have a property built with our money, on land that is genuine exchange and therefore any possible compensation in the future must be offset and we have greatly added to the value of the land bought. Accordingly the new law allows a Greek Cypriot to apply in the TRNC for the return of property or agreed compensation. The South is making moves to prosecute any Greek Cypriot and possibly imprison them for up to 4 years, should they make application in the TRNC, aren't they just the nicest people, even to their own. A construction chief in the TRNC has accused builders of making a profit by going ahead with uncontrolled and unplanned developments. The president of the Turkish Cypriot Civil Engineers Chamber is calling for licensed projects and building certificates to be more common in contracts of agreement between estate agents, builders and buyers. Now that would be an interesting development, but surely a register of really qualified builders who adhered to a set of building rules would also work as you would only buy from those registered. Now I do believe that something along these lines actually exists so maybe, ask your estate agent if the proposed builder is registered and ask for proof.See that Cherie Blair has now got involved in things over here (the Orams case; bless them for ever going to the Greek Cypriot court in the first place), maybe she might persuade her husband to recognise the problem here, or is that asking just too much! Having said that I understand that President Talat may well get a chance to meet Tony Blair in January, I suppose The lovable Tony only wants to see if there is a free villa going for his summer holidays.Almost the end of another year. Joan and I will be out on New Years eve and will let you know what that was like, when we surface on New Years day probably,
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