Erhürman proposes expropriation via IPC for Kiracıköy–Eğlence road

President Tufan Erhürman said they had proposed expropriating pre-1974 Greek Cypriot properties along the route through the Immovable Property Commission (Taşınmaz Mal Komisyonu, TMK) so that the Kiracıköy–Eğlence road could be routed through the north. It is not yet clear what legal method would be used to implement the proposal or how payments for the properties would be funded.

Erhürman outlined the alternatives for the route at a press conference at the Presidency following a meeting on 9 November with Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Hristodulidis and María Ángela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus.

Two alternatives for the road

Erhürman said the entire Kiracıköy–Eğlence road could be built in the north and that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to undertake the construction. The other option, he said, was to build the road through the north as far as the village of Yeri, with the remaining section completed with a contribution from the European Union.

Erhürman said they had also made a proposal on the property issue if the route crossed Greek Cypriot properties, adding: “We are also ready to expropriate these through the Immovable Property Commission.”

Legal framework for implementation not disclosed

The TMK was established under Law 67/2005 to assess applications by Greek Cypriot property owners for restitution, exchange and compensation. The proposal announced, however, envisages acquiring property for a public infrastructure project. No details were provided on how this would be carried out under the Commission’s existing powers, whether the consent of property owners would be required, or what avenues of appeal would be available.

Erhürman also raised concerns about security and oversight in response to the Greek Cypriot side’s approach of routing approximately 3.3 kilometres of the road through the buffer zone. He argued that this option could create uncertainty over authority in responding to crime and traffic accidents.

No agreement on Kiracıköy–Eğlence

At the meeting, agreement was reached on opening the Akıncılar–Limya and Kambo–Gemikonağı crossings simultaneously, but no agreement was reached on Kiracıköy–Eğlence, Haspolat or access to Pile. No opening date was set for the two crossings on which agreement had been reached.

Erhürman said the issues on which no agreement had been reached would be discussed again in the coming weeks at a tripartite meeting expected to be attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.