Regarding the solution that has been put in place for the issue of the community of Mari and the management of its residents, Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Ioannou briefed the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees today. Mr. Ioannou noted that the issue has remained unresolved for decades due to its complexity, noting that since the late 1990s, decisions have been made by the Council of Ministers, aimed at protecting residents from the impacts of the power plant’s operation in the area.
The Minister of the Interior pointed out that in the Council of Ministers’ most recent decision in March 2025, and having acknowledged the increase in construction costs, it provided for increased financial assistance of €50,000 to each family that had not yet completed the construction of their home on a plot of land allocated to them in Zygi. In addition, he noted, in cases where beneficiaries’ homes are used to house their children, they were given the option to transfer their housing rights to their children, provided that the children are eligible based on the criteria of the Service for the Care and Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons. In this way, the original beneficiaries retain their right to reside in their former home in Mari for life, and, at the same time, their children remain in the home built on a plot of land in Zygi.
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Major upgrade of the naval base in Mari
Referring to the issues that arose regarding the 12 small houses built by the Department of Urban Planning and Housing in Zygi to house elderly residents of Mari, the Minister pointed out that, over the years, different personal and family circumstances have arisen, which require careful and fair handling.
Therefore, Mr. Ioannou informed the Refugee Committee of the guidelines issued for the specific handling of cases involving the occupants of the housing units, based on the particular circumstances of each case, ensuring their continued residence or the formal registration of the shelters.
The aim of this arrangement is to protect families facing unique social circumstances, making rational use of state-owned housing stock and ensuring that housing assistance is provided based on fair and clear criteria.
According to Mr. Ioannou, the government’s intention is to implement solutions that combine consistency in the implementation of government decisions with social justice and respect for people’s needs, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the above proposal will be submitted to the Cabinet in the coming weeks for approval.
Members of Parliament expressed satisfaction with the Ministry of the Interior’s response to these issues, which were raised during the Committee’s meetings.
MPs Satisfied
The Committee Chair and AKEL MP, Nikos Kettiros, explained in remarks following the meeting that, regarding the granting of title deeds for refugee homes built after 1974 near refugee settlements but not designated as refugee settlements, this matter will be addressed through a bill that the Committee will submit for a vote.
Additionally, regarding the granting of title deeds for houses built in Zygi, Mr. Kettiros stated that the matter will proceed based on a proposal from the Ministry of the Interior to be presented to the Cabinet next week.
Specifically, regarding the granting of title deeds for the homes of displaced persons located outside settlements, Mr. Kettiros noted that there was a legislative loophole, which was identified only when the process of issuing property titles for displaced persons began to accelerate starting in 2023, although the legislation governing the issuance of title deeds had been passed as early as 2006.
The bill, which according to Mr. Kettiros will be submitted to the next plenary session of Parliament for a vote, concerns several hundred homes, as he explained, which were built on state-owned land, although they are not located in an area designated as a refugee settlement.
Regarding the displaced persons living in Turkish Cypriot homes in Mari and in homes in Zygi, which were built with assistance provided to the beneficiaries and are now occupied by their children, Mr. Kettiros stated that the Ministry of the Interior has decided that the parents may remain for life in the homes where they currently reside in Mari, without the right to transfer the occupancy permit to other children.
As for the small houses built by the Department of Urban Planning in Zygi, which the District Officer of Larnaca wanted to reclaim, according to Mr. Kettiros, the Ministry’s decision is that they remain with the beneficiaries or their heirs. “The legislation passed by the House of Representatives in 2023 regarding title deeds applies to all of Cyprus and includes Zygi,” noted Mr. Kettiros.
DISY MP George Lysandridis, expressed satisfaction with the personalized handling of the issues addressed by the Committee during its three meetings, as he put it.
DIKO MP Adamos Aspris welcomed the decision and the Ministry of the Interior’s swift response to resolve the issues examined by the Committee, noting that this would rectify the injustice suffered by the residents of the area.
ELAM MP Linos Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou expressed satisfaction that a solution had been found for the 12 residential units in Zygi, noting that the matter had been examined on the Committee’s own initiative. “This development proves that when problems are brought to light and there is genuine political will, then appropriate solutions can be found,” he said
He clarified that for the homes of five beneficiaries who have passed away, the option to transfer title to the property in the name of one of their children will be provided. Additionally, for the homes of three beneficiaries who are still alive, either they themselves or one of their children will be able to secure title. As for the two vacant units, he said they will be allocated through the welfare registry, while in the other two cases, lifetime rights will be granted, and in one of those cases, it will be examined whether the property can be registered in the name of the spouse’s child.
Litsa Konstantinidi, a member of parliament from the Alma movement, Litsa Konstantinidi, stated that, despite the fact that the homes of displaced persons outside refugee settlements had been built legally, they were denied the right to a title deed, adding that the amendment to be submitted by the Committee aims to remedy this situation. “We believe it is important to address this outstanding issue so that refugee families who have been waiting for years can finally secure title deeds.”
Ms. Konstantinidi also welcomed the prompt response from the Ministry of the Interior and the decisions being implemented to resolve the housing problems of displaced persons in Zygi and Mari. She added that “there are many outstanding issues regarding the housing rehabilitation of refugees, and we hope that the same level of mediation will be applied to the remaining problems as well.”
