Orams lose appeal and Greek legal team to help in talks

A report in the Cyprus Mail says that the British Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in the case of Apostolides v Orams, ruling in favour of Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, a statement from his lawyers said.

The present appeal is final, it added, and a further appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is not permitted.

The judgment provides that the Cyprus judgments be registered and enforced in the UK.

The Cyprus Court had made a number of orders against David and Linda Orams, regarding land in Lapithos belonging to Apostolides. In particular, the Cyprus Court ordered that the Orams should cease trespassing on the land belonging to Apostolides, deliver up possession of the land to Apostolides, pay back rent to Apostolides for the period of their occupation and knock down the villa and fencing they had built on the land.

The Orams will also be ordered to pay the legal fees incurred by Apostolides, regarding the London and Luxembourg proceedings.

“This judgment has determined in a final way that the legal rights of displaced Cypriots against trespassers, as determined by the Courts of the Republic of Cyprus, can be enforced in the United Kingdom,” said the statement from lawyer, Constantis Candounas.

“Mr. Apostolides feels totally satisfied that the European institutions have safeguarded his right to have his human rights to property enforced throughout the Union. He had placed his trust in British Justice and has never felt that this was misplaced.”

Candounas said the ruling is expected to act as a future deterrent for speculators in stolen Cypriot properties, as well as those willing to take small or bigger risks.

“The way is now open for all Greek Cypriots whose properties have been usurped by other EU nationals, to take legal action and enforce Cyprus judgments against such trespassers in the United Kingdom and other EU countries,” his statement said.

A team of legal experts from Greece will be set up immediately to help the Greek Cypriot negotiating team in the talks on the Cyprus problem , announced Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou yesterday after meeting with President Christofias in Athens.


Mr Papandreou also agreed to visit Cyprus to hold consultations with Christofias and party leaders to jointly evaluate the latest developments.

After a working lunch between the two delegations, Mr Papandreou told reporters that he was in agreement with Mr Christofias that the talks must continue. “We believe that problems can only be solved at the negotiating table without grand statements and proposals for public effect, but with continuous effort until a jointly-agreed solution is reached,” he said.

He added that they had also agreed the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the issues of governance were negative, “I would say a step backwards, and that for there to be progress in the talks, the basis of the talks must be kept as that which has already been agreed”.

On his part Mr Christofias said he hoped that Mr Talat’s position would change in the second round of intensive talks so that it can lead to real progress with greater convergence on the governance issue.

“I don’t wish to prejudge the derailment of the talks first of all. The so-called proposals are unacceptable, we reject them and do not accept discussing them,” said Christofias who added that he will continue to have open discussions with Talat on all aspects of governance. “We remain consistent in our strategic goal,” he said.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Turkey’s EU accession path, after which Papandreou assured the Cypriot president that the two countries’ “very close co-operation will continue and our co-ordination on all issues and at every level, political and administrative”.

Mr Papandreou called on Turkey to take bold steps and help transform the region into a model of peaceful co-operation.


“I believe it’s time for there to be courage on Turkey’s part to release the Turkish Cypriot community, and to contribute constructively towards finding a solution which will transform our region from one of tension and sometimes instability to a region where there is peaceful co-operation, as an example not only for the wider region but the whole world.”