Greek Cypriots in US sue Turkish CyprusFont Size: Larger|Smaller
Friday, October 23, 2009
SEFA KARAHASAN
NICOSIA Milliyet
Greek Cypriots living in the United States have opened a court case against Turkey and Turkish Cyprus at a District of Columbia Court. They claim their property rights have been violated and are seeking $400 billion in compensation, according to reports from the Greek press.
Representing Greek Cypriots Mihalis Tumazos, Nicolas Kancilaris and Marula Tumasoz, Greek-American lawyer Athan Chimbidis delivered the lawsuit petition to the D.C. court. In the petition, Chimbidis referred to the law that allowed opening a court case against another country in the United States. The lawyer said Turkey could not be present in court as the case was opened in the United States.
Greek press reported that the cases reasoning also said, Turkey and the Turkish Army carried out and maintained the occupation with American equipment it bought/was provided by the United States, and that such an occupation is in violation of U.S. law.
Greek press said the Greek Cypriot applicants asked for nearly $400 billion in compensation. It was also reported that the application claimed that international real estate company RE/MAX International and HSBC Bank aided in and benefited from the illegal use of Greek properties in Turkish Cyprus.
On the other hand, in an article on Oct. 4, Greek daily Politis wrote that the Greek Land Registry Administration had announced the total amount of compensation to be paid for Greek property in Turkish Cyprus as 4 billion euros. The report said 81.4 percent of the land on the island belonged to Greeks and 16.8 percent belonged to Turks, while Turkish Cyprus maintains that 71.5 percent of the land belongs to Greeks and 26.7 percent belongs to Turks. The remaining 1.8 percent belongs to other property holders.
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