Reinforced and Silent Occupation of SPNK: Weapon in the CCA.

In my previous article, I talked about how foreigners, mainly Israelis, are acquiring a large amount of real estate in Northern Cyprus directly or through "deals" (ownership by lawyers, journalists, and foreign companies with Turkish involvement). I can hear your words: "But isn't the situation different in Turkey?" You are right, but NorthernCyprus is an incredibly small country (about0.4%) compared to Turkey, and land acquisition raises serious concerns and fears.

Since2003, Israel has acquired around2,000 companies and purchased about25,000 acres of land in Northern Cyprus. It is also widely known that some of them have Greek hidden owners.

Now let's briefly talk about the process of direct or indirect acquisition of real estate, which began in2003, mainly by Israelis. Since2014, the sale of real estate to foreigners has been carried out by granting citizenship of Northern Cyprus. Additionally, according to NorthernCyprus legislation, foreign companies can only acquire500 square meters of land in the country. However, if at least51 percent of the shares in such companies belong to citizens of NorthernCyprus, these companies are not subject to the500 square meter restriction. Nevertheless, the remaining49 percent of shares does not matter. It is noted that even if on the surface, citizens of Northern Cyprus own at least51 percent of the shares, these people actually act as "strawmen" or proxies who are used as figureheads. Foreigners are particularly interested in buying property in Dipkarpaz. In general, in February2021, an article was published in Forbes magazine drawing attention to the high cost of Karpaz and the advantages of purchasing land there.

The authorities in Northern Cyprus are also concerned about foreigners buying property. In fact, military restricted zones and security zones are not taken into account when selling property to foreigners. For example, it is reported that on October25,2021, Israelis bought a plot of land measuring about1000 acres near the military base of Geçitkale. On November23,2021, Zorlu Torer, a member of the National Unity Party of NorthernCyprus and the current chairman of the Cyprus Parliament, stated that "Israelis are buying land not only in Karpaz, but also in the vicinity of Gaziveren and around Ercan Airport."On March5,2022, it was revealed that Israeli companies also purchased5 acres of land in the village of Gaziveren, presenting this purchase as an investment in medical tourism. On April14,2022, Kudret Ezersay, a member of the Cyprus Parliament and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed dissatisfaction with this situation and called for regulatory measures to be taken regarding the purchase of land and property by foreigners. The media reports that Israeli companies have started construction on a major project in Lefke-Gaziveren on July24,2022, with photography prohibited in this area. Additionally, it is reported that Israeli companies began their projects in the Güzelyurt region in Aydıncık on September28,2022.

Of course, these land and residential property purchases are not limited to Israelis. Lately, Russia, Ukraine, Scandinavian countries, Germany, and the UK and their citizens and companies have been actively acquiring real estate in large volumes. Lawyers (and some journalists) are particularly active in this process, who are co-owners of foreign companies supposedly with a51 percent stake, but actually control only5 percent and organize these "deals." It is known that these foreign individuals and companies offer attractive sums of money to owners of land plots larger than20 acres.

Cyprusreal estate agents are currently saying that they are facing an unprecedented influx of clients. One Cypriot living in NorthernCyprus sent us the following information and expressed his dissatisfaction:

• There are no free plots left in the Famagusta and Iskele areas.
• Most of them were sold to foreigners through Cypriot lawyers, journalists, and intermediary companies.
• In particular, masses of Israelis, Russians, and Scandinavians are coming to Cyprus to buy homes and land.
• There are foreigners who have purchased 10 houses through "deals".
• Who and what do these foreigners and intermediaries rely on?
• People who have been working in the real estate sector for 40 years say they have never seen anything like this.

According to the latest data received on January 4, 2023, in 2022, 2,672 foreigners were granted permission to purchase real estate in Northern Cyprus. These figures do not include foreigners who obtained citizenship in NorthernCyprus, as well as companies that allegedly have 51 percent ownership by citizens of Northern Cyprus and the properties they acquired. This is the main issue! It has been reported that in October 2022, a bill from the "National Unity" political party of NorthernCyprus, prepared by MP Yasemin Öztürk, aimed at restricting foreign ownership of real estate in NorthernCyprus, was withdrawn after pressure from influential circles.

It is also worth paying attention to the situation in Karpaz and the so-called NATURA 2000 project, which is a European Union program for the protection of nature and the environment, but is actually used by the Greeks and the Rum to establish their influence and prevent the establishment of influence by Turkish Cypriots. According to the NATURA 2000 program, developed in 1992, a network of protected areas is created within the borders of the EU.

What needs to be done?

• It is important to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the activities of 2,000 companies, particularly those connected to Israel, and to examine in detail what they are involved in.
• It is necessary to take measures to counteract fictitious transactions and the acquisition of land under the guise of creating companies or commercial activities.
• The NATURA 2000 project, which restricts the sovereignty of Northern Cyprus and contradicts the principles of an independent Turkish state and the principles of a two-state solution, needs to be terminated.
• It is necessary to find out whether there are individual and well-known lawyers and foreign journalists working in foreign companies.
• There should be a ban on the sale of land to foreigners around military zones.
• Areas adjacent to military facilities should be declared military security zones and should not be designated for residential development.
• The sale of land to foreigners should be completely prohibited, and they should only be allowed to purchase apartments in multi-story buildings.

Otherwise, soon the Turks will become workers, and foreigners will be employers. Avoiding the fall of the Turk into an alienated position in their own country is the task of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is a Turkish state. God bless the Turkish people and Turkish states, and may they be blessed with eternity!