ENVISIONING A FUTURE: TOWARDS A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS

The document summarizes a conference held on 30 September 2011 in Nicosia, which addressed the historical, social, and legal dimensions of property disputes resulting from the displacement of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. It details the divergent political positions of the two sides, the financial challenges of compensation, and the need for sustainable development and a pragmatic, multi-dimensional approach to settlement.

• The property issue in Cyprus is deeply rooted in population displacements starting in 1963 and escalating in 1974, resulting in the ethnic homogenisation of the north and south. Approximately 162,000 Greek Cypriots fled to the south, while about 48,000 Turkish Cypriots moved to the north.
• Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiating positions remain fundamentally opposed: Greek Cypriots emphasize the right of dispossessed owners to decide the fate of their property and return, while Turkish Cypriots favor objective criteria to protect current users and maintain bizonality.
• The financial burden of a property settlement is substantial, with estimated compensation costs ranging between €8 billion and €19 billion, and rehousing costs between €1 billion and €2.5 billion. Even a €9 billion cost would represent 45% of the GDP.
• The post-1974 period in the south saw a significant economic collapse, with gainful employment dropping from 253,000 in 1973 to 135,000 in 1975, and unemployment reaching 29.6% in the second half of 1974.
• Turkish Cypriots have proposed a 'Property Development Corporation' (PDC) to use 'urban transformation' to release 'trapped value' from structurally depressed properties in the south, making exchanges more attractive.
• There is a shared sense of 'fatigue about the past' and 'cynicism about the peace processes' among both communities, and a growing concern that the current status quo is unsustainable as property development in the north further complicates potential restitution.

APA

Trimikliniotis, N., & Sojka, B. (n.d.). ENVISIONING A FUTURE: TOWARDS A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e518700c-1f5a-477b-bedd-37503646dc4e/Displacement_Report_7_ENG.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Trimikliniotis, Nicos, and Bozena Sojka. ENVISIONING A FUTURE: TOWARDS A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e518700c-1f5a-477b-bedd-37503646dc4e/Displacement_Report_7_ENG.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Trimikliniotis |first1=Nicos |last2=Sojka |first2=Bozena |title=ENVISIONING A FUTURE: TOWARDS A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e518700c-1f5a-477b-bedd-37503646dc4e/Displacement_Report_7_ENG.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trimikliniotisndenvisioning, author = {Trimikliniotis, Nicos and Sojka, Bozena}, title = {{ENVISIONING A FUTURE: TOWARDS A PROPERTY SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/e518700c-1f5a-477b-bedd-37503646dc4e/Displacement_Report_7_ENG.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }