Nicosia, Cyprus. Construction works have reportedly resumed on some properties under development in the north by convicted usurper of Greek Cypriot property Simon Aykut, House refugee committee MPs said on Tuesday. Committee members also raised concerns over the government’s decision to allow Aykut to return to Israel to serve the rest of his sentence.
Concerns raised at closed-door committee meeting
Committee chairman and Akel MP Nikos Kettiros said “great concern was expressed” regarding both the information about resumed works and the decision related to Aykut’s return to Israel.
Kettiros said refugee organisations had requested that the decision not be executed and that Aykut remain in prison in Cyprus.
The meeting was held behind closed doors at the request of the Law Office, although Kettiros said he did not understand why. “No secrets were spoken,” he said, adding that in his view “they did not feel comfortable with the development of the case and did not wish to face the press”.
Kettiros said presidency representatives, including the undersecretary to the president, had been invited but did not attend.
Property owners attend; verification not provided
Kettiros said those who did attend were the “people whose properties Aykut usurped”, but added that the authorities “were not in a position to verify this, despite the fact we invited them to do so”.
He said the committee wanted “measures to be taken over the coming period as it appears that works have resumed on some of the properties Aykut had begun building on”.
“There are about 40 such properties,” Kettiros said, adding that there were about 180 witnesses in the indictment.
European arrest warrants discussed
Disy MP Nikos Georgiou said the committee discussed the European arrest warrants issued by Cyprus against individuals involved in the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the north, adding that the cases of Simon Aykut and Behdad Jafari “sounded the alarm”.
What steps do you think authorities should take in response to the reported resumption of construction works?