Turkey was always aiming to divide the island of Cyprus. This trials had started before 1959. Some mistakes made by the Greek Cypriots gave the opportunity to the extremists of the Turkish "gladio" and the terrorists of turkish TMT to accomplish their long term plans. Before 1959 the Turkish people of Cyprus were living in piece and prosperity. After 1959 - 1960 the extremists of the TMT guided by Turkey, have managed to create a "new environment " that lead to the events of 1974. Greeks have also made their mistakes but is the Turkey that is mainly rensponsible for the events occured in the period 1960-1974. During the coup of 1974 Turkish population of the island was not threatened at all. It was only a " conflict among the Greek polpulation" of the island. However Turkey took the chance to invate by claiming the "security " of the Turkish population. By this, Turkey have managed to occupy half of the island and accomplished their plans. After 1974 the island is still divided.

stelios, Larnaca, cyprus

DJ, London, UK . I suggest you to read and understand the history of Cyprus and then comment on the issue.

stelios, Larnaca, cyprus

Reading through the various commnents, I would like to say this; it is time the mythology surrounding the 'attempted genocide' of the Turks in Cyprus was laid to rest. We lived through the events surrounding the coup before the invasion, there wasn't a Turkish nose touched, and the Turks themselves have not claimed that there was genocide. Quite simply, Turkey found a good excuse and invaded Cyprus, killing or violently forcing people from their homes and land in order to implement its own designs.Period. Possession of other people's land does not give anybody ownership rights - imagine what would happen if the people living in a British neighbourhood decided to create their own 'state', especially if they are not the owners of the premises!
People who have invested in occupied Cyprus are simply taking advantage of this situation in order to get a 'good deal', only it might turn out not to be so good after all.

Frangos, Limassol, Cyprus

It is not a 'breakaway part of the island', nor is it 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' - it is the Occupied Northern part of Cyprus, not legal and not recognised by the EU or UN.

Simone, Reading, UK

The Greek Cypriot genocide of ethnic Turks have resulted in the current state of affairs in the divided island and the current citizens of TRNC are suffering the consequences of their non-recognition by the international community that is strongly influenced by Greek and now EU propaganda...

Barbara, London, UK

There are unscuruplous estate agents all over the world not just in TRNC. There will be many people who are happy with their purchase in the TRNC.
However, even if everything went smoothly with the buying process there is still one fundamental thing which has put me off buying in northern Cyprus and this is it:
Even when you buy a property and move in, you still cannot legally own this property since the property is likely to belong to one of the 200,000 Greek refugees who fled south of the island after the Turkish military operation in 1974.
Therefore, you can never be sure that you won't be taken to court by people making claims on your house. Even the Judge is the recent Orams case stated this in his judgment:

"Greek Cypriots who formerly possessed land in the TRNC remain the real owners, and that those who buy or occupy this land are 'trespassers' and will be treated as such in the eyes of the law [3];"

Certainly not good news for those investing in the TRNC.

Michael Givens, London, UK

Having been a resident in the TRNC for 3 years now, I am very happy with my purchase. If the people who bought into the AGA site had done their homework on the company, its directors and not trusted the word of an Estate Agent, they wouldn't be in this mess.

We saw the development. We liked it but when we did our homework and found that the Director Gary Robb was a wanted criminal in the UK and the Estate Agent had the reputation of not telling the whole truth, we backed off.

There are many (over 100) Estate Agents and 200 Builders and developers here who do excellent work and stick to their contracts. They aren't difficult to find.

Remember. Think with your head, not your heart. Don't sign a contract on the first visit. Visit somewhere several times before you take the plunge.

Timothy Cadman, Girne, TRNC

We have a villa in Northern Cyprus, it was built on time by a very good builder, we have our deeds and are perfectly happy with our home. Yes there are some rogues in business but most people know who they are and avoid them at all costs.As in any other country there are risks to buying a property so it,s vital that you do your homework before handing over your money, you wouldn,t do it in the UK so why should you do it anywhere else.

Carol Fern, Staffordshire, UK

The property scam gang and the political parties are so intertwined, that one couldn't survive without the other.

j bolton, manchester, UK

There was no attempted genocide in Cyprus ericdayi and Mary, UN investigations into the events of Cyprus made no mention of the word genocide.

Not once.

Which more than I can say for the Turks and the Armenian Genocide, it's widely accepted around the world as fact, despite Turkey's efforts at denial.

What you laughingly call Greek Cypriot 'propaganda' is actually established fact accepted by the UN and the EU through their own investigations into the Cyprus debacle.

As for the human rights and 'misery and hardship' you bemoan, I suggest you take a look at the treatment Turkey's Kurds have received over the last few decades.

'The Genocide Files' by Harry Gibbons was even mentioned, page after page of allegations, yet, not one page of references, not even a solitary line stating where he got these cold hard 'facts' from.

So, impartial UN reports are Greek Cypriot 'propaganda' and unreferenced trash like 'The Genocide Files' are 'facts'.

What a strange world you people inhabit.

Nick L, London,

The old saying "caveat emptor" let the buyer beware is very appropriate in this case. It is widely known and reported that the northern part of Cyprus is an unrecognised , inlawfull statlet which was a result of invasion and continued occupation by Turkey of 38% of the independent republic of Cyprus.
Surly , the British buyers were aware of this and that the fact that the majority of the land is and continues to be owned by Greek Cypriots, based on international law. When things do go wrong, they have no redress through the courts because their transaction was unlawfull in the first place , and the so callled TRNC has no extradition treaty with the EU or Britain as no state other then Turkey recognise them!Unfortunatly , that is the heavy price one pays for trying to make a quick buck at the expense of the Greek Cypriot's land!

Ignoring the fact that the northern part of Cyprus is an unrecognised state is obviously a huge mistake for any prospective British buyer!

R Fuller, London, UK

We own a house in Northern Cyprus as do many of our friends and we dealt with a reputable company (Ian Smiths Estate Agents) and not with any companies that residents warn about. Don't believe all the Greek propaganda you read or hear as I understand that most of Larnaca Airport is built on Turkish land for which no compensation has ever been paid. Anyone wanting to know the truth about how it all came about should read a book called 'The Genocide Files' written by Harry Gibbons to get a more balanced view of how the TRNC was formed.

John E, Essex,

Buying property in Northern Cyprus is not a minefield. The proof of this is the thousands of Britains and other nationalities who live or have houses there.
The property laws are similar to the UK given it was a colony until the 1960's.Many of the solicitors were educated at Law schools in the UK, and therefore speak excellent English.
It is attractive because property is cheaper than Southern Cyprus and it is far less developed, crime is low, and as seems to be agreed by all parties to this discussion it is very beautiful.
The events surrounding the report seem outrageous and we must hope will be dealt with appropriatly at government level.
As for the remaining political remarks regarding land that have been written by Greek Cypriots, I suspect they could have been written by both sides. the only difference is the independant UN proposal for a settlement was accepted by the Turkish Cypriots but refused by the South. Do we assume isolation of the North has suited Greek Cypriots well ?

John D, London, UK

It's funny how you Greek Cypriots backed by your mainland Greek compatriots always cry about your "human rights" and what you have lost but never mention a single word of what your people (Greek and Greek Cypriots) misery and hardship caused on us Turkish Cypriots since the late 1950's.

In 1958 96% of GCs voted for ENOSIS which started the attempted genocide on us TCs. Greece sent in thousands of it's soldiers to kill every Turkish Cypriot and steal our land ILLEGALLY. This inhumane act of the GCs and Greeks carried on until 1974 when genocide on us Turkish Cypriots attempted again by Greeks and Greek Cypriots. If it wasn't for Turkey ALL Turkish Cypriots would have been murdered and anything Turkish would have been eliminated just like in Crete.

In 2004 the GCs elected a known EOKA terrorist as their leader to kill of the last chance to bring ever lasting peace to Cyprus and voted NO to the Anann Plan.

Ericdayi, Essex,

AT present the Greek Cypriots are attempting to achieve their ENOSIS through "osmosis" and "we are all Cypriots" propaganda.

Nothing has changed since the 1950's and the GCs are still dreaming of turning the whole of Cyprus into a Greek ruled island and us TCs as second class minorities in our own country.

The best thing that can now happen in Cyprus is to keep the island divided and compensate those who lost land and property. I also lost land but PEACE and NO MORE KILLING is more important to me then any piece of land.

Eric dayi, Essex,

My names Nick from London, I've lived here most of my life. My family used to have a house and a plot of land in a little village near Famagusta but all that changed after the Turkish invasion. Maybe you heard of the words Ethnic Cleansing, I did when I was just 6. I just want to say it's not about the moral high ground or properganda. It's about the pain and loss, as a nation split in half and forced out of our homes and now having to hear from people like Kocinskis just how beautiful it is in the North. I wonder how these people would be feeling if it happened to them?

Nick Menicou, London, UK

The 'troubles' in Cyprus began with Eoka - and ended when the mainland Turkish military rescued Turkish speaking Cypriots from genocide. There was a referendum in 2004 and the Turkish Cypriots voted in favour, the Greek Cypriots shooting themselves in both feet by voting against. There are enormous tracts of land in southern Cyprus owned (still) by the Turkish Cypriots. Larnaca airport is built on Turkish Cypriot owned land. Owning a house in North Cyprus is no more problematical than anywhere else in the Meditterranean but one has to be careful not to be conned by someone making a quick buck - unfortunately most people doing the conning are British.

Mary Berry, Horsham, West Sussex

Unwin Estate Agents, meanwhile, has distanced itself from the development. “We were not in cahoots with Aga,” says Mark Unwin, the agency’s founder. “We just did the marketing.” He insisted his company had “severed ties” with Robb in late 2004, but admitted that he continued to send e-mails to existing clients -

Why did he send emails to existing customers ?

j bolton, manchester, UK

I agree, my parents own properties near Kyrenia and lost everything in 1974. All these people who buy properties in the northern Cyprus know very well that they are buying land that legally will never belong to them. No court will compensate them, as they do not have the legal documents and titile deeds. They get what they deserve and they should expect no sympathy, but be ashamed of themeselves trying to benefit from someone's else's misery and suffering.

Terry, Sydney,

british conmen involved . they have tarnished the trnc

chris, london, england

They went looking for a cheap deal, on occupied lands, on property legally belonging to a refugee who was kicked out of his/her home and land by the Turkish army in 1974.

Typical parasites that they are, they tried to have a cheap home on stolen land but got robbed instead. Serves them right!!!

Dino, Toronto, Canada

This couple deserve sympathy not criticism, we know a few well educated people who have succesfully bought a property over there. If anyone should be criticized it is the home sellers and media advertising the wonderful lifestyle to be had over there. They don`t tell the whole truth about the country they are advertising. People are being duped into buying a reasonably priced home, thinking everything is above board, that Unwins are marvellous estate agents whose word is to be relied on.
The opposite is true, you are gambling with your fortune if you decide to buy a property in Northern Cyprus. Some will be lucky and move into a lovely home and enjoy a good lifestyle, and others will be ripped off by the criminals. Sandra and Greg are just trying to warn other people to beware. That can only be a good thing.
It`s unfair to suggest they attempted to get a cheap deal by taking advantage of someone else`s misery. Why aren`t Greek Cypriots holding demonstrations in Northern Cyprus then?

C. Boone, Brigg, North Lincs.

We thought about buying in northern Cyprus, the prices were cheap, the weather is great, but when we dug a little deeper we found it too risky.
First of all, the TRNC isn't a recognised state, it is recognised only by Turkey and is ostracised from the international community. If sonething does go wrong with your purchase you don't have any agency or insitution to help you.
Secondly, there are too many crooks operating there for my liking. Most of them are estate agents.
Thirdly, the prices for houses, villas and apartments are too cheap. Something's not right there. Equivalent properties just
a few miles south in the Greek area are twice/thrice more expensive. There's a reason for this: the Greek part is internationally recognised and is part of the EU and thus offers a safe investment to homebuyers.
Fourthly, most land still belongs to Greek refugees and can be claimed by them at any time (see judgment in Orams case).
Fifth, do a search of 'trncpropertywarning' for more info.

Keith Manley, Newcastle, UK

Unforunately, it is a sad fact that some get-rich-quick merchants, some estate agents and builders in Northern Cyprus are British. In 2005 whilst visiting our house in NC I met two retired brothers (from the NE of England) who had met a man in a club in Tyneside who told them that someone in Northern Cyprus would build them a house in NC valued at £120K for which they would only have to pay £60K if they paid in cash. These two elderly retired men withdrew all their savings, IN CASH,flew to NC, found the developer (Robb), paid over their money and yes, they lost it all. I have absolutely no sympathy for them - when I asked would they do the same with their money if they were in the UK they said 'no', then why on earth act differently abroad. The vast majority of North Cypriot nationals are honest, warm, kind, friendly and as tired as the rest of us with the few Brits who let everyone down.

Mary Berry, Horsham, West Sussex

Whose misery and suffering,? Certainly not the Greek Cypriots in the ROC who by the way live on Turkish Cypriot land and in their homes. It is the Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC government who are being discriminated against and suffering racism by the international community perpetuated by the ROC/Greek Cypriots.

The Greek Cypriots/ROC are recognised and they have prospered. They have also been offered compensation for their land in the TRNC which they are not allowed to accept as the ROC government won't allow it.

The Greek Cypriots caused all the problems in Cyprus and they must accept the consequences. I have absolutely no sympathy for the Greek Cypriots whatsoever, as far as I'm concerned, they got exactly what they deserved.

DJ, London, UK

This is what happens when you invest in an illegal state. British developers in the occupied part of Cyprus know that they are building on Greek cypriot land which is under dispute internationally.

People be aware. Don't buy in Northen Cyprus. Even if you are not cheated, one day your property might be claimed by the Greek Cypriot who is the legal owner of the land

Yiannis, Doha, Qatar

This appears to be a combined effort to scam between the 'british estate agent and the british builder' .
The government of the TRNC needs to send them back to the UK to face the victims - legally.

j, manchester, UK

I am a Greek owner of land in the occupied part of Cyprus, so called now "north Cyprus'' I can not have possession of my land and home...if you think this is fair, go ahead and buy my property from the invaders. Turkish Cypriots have abandoned their properties in the south to go to the north, where they wer given our homes by the illegal puppet regime, but they have legal possession of their properties in the south, because the south is a legal state respecting international law, member of EUROPEAN UNION, More than half of Turkish Cypriots emigrated to UK, after the invasion, having tried the benefits of the new so called state

Demetris, larnaca, cyprus

Nick, the Greek side of the island have never grasped that the land issue cuts both ways, what about all the Turkish Cypriots who have lost their homes in the South? You had your chance with the Annan plan and referendum, you have lost the moral high ground falsely promoted by efficent Greek properganda, if the truth was known, you never had it.
With regard to buying, plenty of people have bought and are are happy with their purchases in the North, proper research is key, the warnings as to who deal with and not to deal with are all there.
Like any other country the rogues are only to willing to take advantage of Brits who leave their brains on the plane. But their are plenty of good lawyers and builders in the TRNC with many happy buyers.

Mike, Ipswich,

Nick L, London is rather harsh on a couple who assumed that they were dealing with reputable people. Unfortunately there are rogues in every country. At the same time I find it difficult to understand why anyone would continue to pay money to a firm that was not meeting its obligations. There are many homes already built in North Cyprus that have clear title. I suggest that any UK people interested in settling in North Cyprus purchase a house that they can inspect and have the legal details properly handled by a lawyer.
ataharry, Australia

Harry Blackley, Geelong, Australia

This couple went to north Cyprus with their eyes open, they knew that the north is an unrecognised 'state', they knew that the land on which 'their' house was built probably legally belongs to someone else and that the seller had no legally valid ownership rights over the land on which he built these houses.

They attempted to get a cheap deal by taking advantage of some else's misery and suffering and got stung by one of the many criminals who currently reside in northern Cyprus.

I have absolutely no sympathy for them whatsoever, as far as I'm concerned they got exactly what they deserved.

Nick L, London,