After nearly a decade of legal battles, Saint Catherine's Monastery, the world's oldest continuously occupied Christian monastery, awaits a crucial court decision regarding ownership of its historic lands in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Monastery leaders express cautious optimism, buoyed by high-level Egyptian and Greek involvement.
Tag: Property Rights
Turkey is facing economic consequences due to increased arrests of property usurpers and is intensifying pressure on Greek Cypriots in occupied Famagusta to sell their land. Turkish magnates and developers are employing various tactics, including coercion and offers of "compensation," to acquire properties, while some Greek Cypriots are reportedly acting as intermediaries. This activity is impacting the construction industry in the occupied territories and raising concerns about the "Turkification" of the island.
The deadline for property owners to submit their declarations to the Land Registry is fast approaching. By November 30, those who haven't yet registered their property rights—such as ownership, usufruct, or mortgages—must complete the process or risk being blocked from conducting transactions like sales or transfers. This strict deadline applies to all real estate beneficiaries, including individuals, legal entities, and the Greek State. With no extension expected, property owners must act quickly to avoid fines and costly legal procedures.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece will establish a complete land registry by 2025, ending its status as the only European country without one. The new cadastre will clearly define public and private property, including forests and coastal areas, aiming to bring transparency, eliminate ambiguities, and support economic growth through clear property rights.
Albanians in Himara are set to elect a new mayor on Sunday, following the conviction and imprisonment of former mayor Fredi Beleri on vote-buying charges. The case has intensified tensions between Albania and Greece, with Greece threatening to obstruct Albania’s EU membership bid. The election features candidates from the local ethnic Greek community, focusing on key issues of property rights and tourism development in the town.
Turkey's actions in Varosha have been condemned as illegal by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). A new resolution labels the reopening of the fenced-off city a "grave violation" of UN resolutions and urges a return to the rule of law.