Apostolides v. Orams Case - The Party is Over at UK court
Foreign trespassers and illegal developers of Greek Cypriot properties in the north were warned
in no uncertain terms yesterday that “the party is over” by the lawyer for Melitis Apostolides in the Orams case. Constantis Candounas warned that there was “no free ride” anymore for those who exploit Greek Cypriot properties in the north following the victory in the English Court of Appeal on Tuesday. “My only message to trespassers and illegal developers in the north is that the party is over. I’m sorry,” he said. The English Appeals Court ruled in favour of Apostolides, ordering the Orams to demolish the home they built on his land in Lapithos, return the property and pay back rent (£300 for every month since 2002 plus interest) and legal costs, estimated at around £1.35 million sterling." From now on the judgements of Cypriot courts which refer to properties in the occupied territories can be registered and executed in the United Kingdom, and of course also in the other countries of the European Union.
The significance of today's judgement by the British Court was also highlighted in statements to CyBC by Mr Apostolides's British counsel (contained in the 19th January news report in Greek, provided below)
"It means that the English courts are prepared to vindicate the property and human rights of people who have been driven from their land by force of arms. I think that's very important. It means that we take seriously the rule of law - and I was worried at one stage that the English courts might want to try and avoid that issue, because its difficult. The other thing which I think is really important is that it sends a big signal to people, saying - 'be very careful if buying property in the north of Cyprus. Find out who owned it previously'."
