Layout 1

The document details the history of displacement in Cyprus, starting from the 1950s and culminating in the 1974 division of the island, which left over 220,000 people dispossessed. It examines the divergent property policies of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the role of the European Court of Human Rights in adjudicating property claims, and the emotional and psychological impact on displaced Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Findings from focus groups indicate a growing sense of realism and pessimism regarding the possibility of return, with many displaced persons now favoring compensation or exchange over restitution due to the passage of time and the establishment of new lives in their current locations.

• Over a twenty-year period, more than 220,000 Cypriots were displaced and lost their properties due to inter-communal violence in the 1950s and 1960s, and the war and division of the island in 1974.
• The Turkish Cypriot administration implemented a 'points' system to allocate abandoned Greek Cypriot properties to 'entitled' individuals, including refugees from the south, victims of conflict, and Turkish immigrants who settled before 1982.
• The Republic of Cyprus appointed the interior minister as the 'custodian' of Turkish Cypriot property in the south, leasing most of these properties to Greek Cypriot displaced persons or public organisations.
• The European Court of Human Rights initially ruled that Greek Cypriots remain the legal owners of their properties in the north and that Turkey is responsible for violations of property rights, but later recognized the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) as an effective domestic remedy.
• Focus group discussions with Greek Cypriots revealed that visiting the north since 2003 has often acted as a 'reality-check,' making many less keen to return and more likely to accept compensation.
• Turkish Cypriot displaced persons generally view their resettlement in the north as permanent and are largely pessimistic about the viability of living together again with Greek Cypriots due to safety concerns.
• There is widespread frustration and cynicism among displaced persons on both sides regarding the lack of transparency and progress in the UN-sponsored inter-communal negotiations.
• While Greek Cypriots generally prefer restitution followed by compensation, Turkish Cypriots primarily support solutions based on exchange and compensation.

APA

Gürel, A., Hatay, M., & Yakinthou, C. (n.d.). Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/2fe8ecb3-41ea-44d7-bebd-8bc5e7fb978a/An Overview of Events and Perceptions.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Gürel, Ayla, Mete Hatay, and Christalla Yakinthou. Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/2fe8ecb3-41ea-44d7-bebd-8bc5e7fb978a/An Overview of Events and Perceptions.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gürel |first1=Ayla |last2=Hatay |first2=Mete |last3=Yakinthou |first3=Christalla |title=Layout 1 |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/2fe8ecb3-41ea-44d7-bebd-8bc5e7fb978a/An Overview of Events and Perceptions.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grelndlayout, author = {Gürel, Ayla and Hatay, Mete and Yakinthou, Christalla}, title = {{Layout 1}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/2fe8ecb3-41ea-44d7-bebd-8bc5e7fb978a/An Overview of Events and Perceptions.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }