Displacement during the emergency years of the late 1950s

2. Displacement during the emergency years of the late 1950s Some urban centers were homogenized through harassment and arson attacks during riots or inter-communal clashes. For example during those days the mixed neighborhood of Agios Lukas was evacuated by GCs and Omeriye neighborhood by the TCs. TCs were displaced from 33 mixed settlements where GCs were in majority. Almost half of them went back after 1960. GCs were displaced from 7 mixed villages where Turkish Cypriots were in majority. Almost half of them went back after 1960. Apart from three villages, all above villages were once again homogenized by one community after 1964.

3. Displacement due to 1963-64 inter-communal strife Between December 1963 and August 1964, Turkish-Cypriots completely evacuated their homes in 72 mixed villages and abandoned 24 wholly Turkish-Cypriot villages. In addition, they partially evacuated eight mixed villages and quarters in each of the six district towns. The total number of Turkish-Cypriot refugees cannot be accurately assessed because of the confusion of the period. It is known that in 1970 about 20,000 Turkish-Cypriots were registered as refugees. Turkish Cypriots claim that the number of the refugees were more than 25,000.

4. During the street fighting which occurred in the Cypriot towns after 21 December 1963, a few thousand Greek Cypriots fled from their homes. Many of these people were not able to return. In rural areas more than 200 Greek Cypriots from six mixed villages became refugees because of the actual fighting or of inter-communal tension. In March 1964, Turkish Cypriots evicted all Armenians from the Turkish Cypriot quarter of Nicosia and resettled TC displaced persons in their houses. Two hundred and thirty one Armenian houses were taken over, and the residents were given only a few hours‘ notice to leave.

5. 1974 and Aftermath The GC refugee movements were in three waves: A-During the first and the second stages of the military offensives. People fled from the advancing Turkish army through mountains and fields for more secure areas in the south. B-Exchange of POWs C-Vienna agreement (between 1975-1980)

6. 1974 and aftermath The TC refugee movements were in four phases: A-People fled through mountains and fields. Some purchased their transfer. B-Exchange of POWs in September 1974 (Klerides and Denktash agreement). C-Via Turkey in January 1975 (those who sought refuge in the British bases were evacuated by airplanes to Turkey). D- Vienna agreement. After September 1975, only 134 TCs were left in the southern part of the barbed wire.

7. Rehabilitation of TC refugees • 45,000 came from the south in 1974-75 • During 1960s clashes, 7,500-10,000 TCs were displaced from the villages and neighborhoods which are situated in the south and had come to the north for safety (they were already in the north when 1974 division took place) e.g: Deftera, Alifodes, Kaimakli , Potamia, AyiosSozomenos, etc. • Displaced persons (15,000) whose houses were either destroyed or not accessible (situated in the buffer zone or military areas) • Total: 65-70,000.

8. First Distribution • By lot. • Each family who were settled in the rural areas were given home and some agricultural land according to family size. For each family 100 donums of dry agriculture land or 7 donums of wetland were allocated. • In the cities one house and a shop or an office were allocated. • For civil servants only one house was given.

9. Settlement, land distribution, and equivalent property law 1977 • provision of land, equipment, livestock and loans to those in the agriculture sector, including displaced persons or residents who are farmers, so as to enable them to become producers; • provision, in accordance with family size, of adequate social housing and essential household goods to families of martyrs, war veterans and displaced persons; • provision of work places and equipment and operational loans to small businesses and artisans; • provision of equivalent property and compensation to those whose properties are either outside the boundaries of the [Turkish Federated State of Cyprus which later became] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or whose properties are inside those boundaries but cannot be used for military reasons; • in case of property which lies within the boundaries of the [Turkish Federated State of Cyprus which later became] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is damaged either by Greek Cypriots or through being abandoned because of use of force by Greek Cypriots, provision for its repair or compensation for the damage it suffered.

10. In 1982 through amendment 27/1982  the law established a ‘points’ system for assignment of tenure of affected properties to ‘rightful persons,’ either on the basis of properties left in the south (or in the north but unusable for military reasons or because of violence-related destruction or abandonment) or of other forms of compensation again defined in the law. • Compensation was awarded to who served as resistance or mudjahid fighters between 1 August 1958 and 30 November 1976; members of the Turkish army who fought in the first and second peace operations [1974] and who received citizenship of the [Turkish Federated State of Cyprus which later became] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and became a resident by 3 May 1985 (Law 12/1989); • Compensation to relatives of martyrs and veterans (17/1992)

11. [ Amendment 27/1982  provides for points to be awarded in exchange for properties in return for owner’s relinquishing title in favour of the state. It also stipulates for exchange of points thus received for ‘definitive possession certificate’ of affected properties in the north (equivalent property exchange). With these arrangements transfer or mortgaging of properties became possible. Amendment 12/1989 stipulates for award of points to TC mucahids or soldiers, and for exchange of such points in return for ‘definitive possession certificate’ of affected properties.

12. [ Amendment 52/1995 elevates the status of ‘definitive possession certificate’ to the status of ‘immovable property title deed’ (kochan). The latter term is said to carry the same meaning as in Law 1946 Chap 224 (Immovable property, tenure, registration and valuation). According to the amendment, any ‘definitive possession certificate’ issued under this law (41/1977) shall be read and interpreted as ‘immovable property title deed’. Amendment 39/1998 provides for those who are renting to apply for title in exchange of points (awarded or bought) or payment to the state.