European property ruling deals heavy blow to TRNC

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled yesterday that a British couple ordered by a Greek Cypriot court to demolish their vacation house in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is bound by the ruling, a move expected to deal a heavy blow to the TRNC real estate sector. The couple, David and Linda Orams, has been in a legal battle since 2004, when a Greek Cypriot court said the house they built near Kyrenia must be demolished as it was built on land owned by a Greek Cypriot prior to 1974. The Nicosia court ordered the couple to tear down the house and pay rent to the Greek Cypriot land owner, Meletis Apostolides, for the period they occupied the property. The ECJ said yesterday that this ruling must be recognized and enforced in Britain because both Greek Cyprus and Britain are members of the European Union. The court said the ruling is binding even though EU laws are not applicable in the TRNC. Hasan Ercakica, spokesman for TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, said the ruling would have negative consequences, including on ongoing Cyprus talks. Talat will meet with representatives of TRNC political parties to assess the court's ruling today.