Our adventures in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus continue....

Yesterdays newspaper is leading with the very important decision coming out of the ECHR. Greek Cypriots must apply to the TRNC Immovable Property Commission (IPC) for compensation or the return of land, prior to any settlement on the island.

The IPC was born out of a call by the ECHR for an effective local remedy to tackle the claims on property in Northern Cyprus. A panel of 17 judges in the ECHR agreed that the IPC is an appropriate domestic body, with access to all the relevant information and was clearly the more appropriate forum for sorting out the very complex matters of ownership etc. and then deciding on appropriate levels of compensation. Already almost £40 million has been awarded in compensation since the

Now with this decision coming out of the European Court, Greek Cypriots have no option but to proceed through these channels. This decision should radically change the attitude to property issues here and maybe give a much needed boost to the future development of the TRNC.

Meanwhile the two presidents are still talking and trying, they say, to reach a mutual compromise solution. These talks will of course be suspended at the end of March when our president will be heavily involved in the elections. Should he of course fall by the wayside then it will probably be a case of going back to the drawing board with any new man, so in short don't expect too much too soon.

Lots of accusations of blame for the damage caused by the recent heavy rains being thrown around. In particular the protests are coming from the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Union. They are quite adamant in saying that there members could not be responsible for dumping in ravines, building on river beds etc. They claim that it must have been illegal contractors. Interesting to note that 12 years ago this union had 20 members, today there are 460 members. As one of the Opinion journalists, tongue in cheek, suggests, these must all be qualified in architectural design, construction and engineering. So exercise great care out there, the fast buck merchants are still around and the for sure do not have the necessary qualifications.