Property Wars in Cyprus: The Turkish Position According to the International Law

Between 1953 and 1974, the main actors in the “Cyprus Dispute” resorted to weapons in order to pursue interests or defend their rights. Way into the second half of the 1990s, the international community maintained a fear that a war might resume between the two communities that could ultimately engulf both sides of the Aegean. However, from the 1990s onwards the battle of weapons has been eclipsed by a battle of books. Losing faith in military means to force Turkey's troops out of Cyprus, the Greek side began placing more emphasis on international law in order to pinpoint to Turkey's elite the economic and political costs of maintaining the status quo. As will be demonstrated, the property issue may turn out to be the Turkish side's Achilles heel.