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e exchanged for new "TRNC" (or, as it was then, Turkish Federated State of
Cyprus) title deeds on formerly Greek-Cypriot property in the north. Farmers from
the south were transferred to farms in the north and their size, location and level of
infrastructural development depended on how many points were awarded for the
property left behind in the south, and how many points the property they could be
allocated was thought to be worth. Not only are the deeds (or leases) so acquired
subsequently tradable but points are also tradable and traded. If the required number
of points for the property in the north are not allocated for the surrendered title
deed, points can be purchased from someone else who had acquired a property
without parting with all the points they had been allocated. Because the valuation of
property in the north and south (which cannot be visited) is a bureaucratic and not a
market exercise, the system of property allocation has been the source of much
grievance 81 . Seemingly, whilst property valúes are perceived to have risen in the
north, point allocations to title deeds pertaining to property in the south do not take
into consideration post-1974 developments 82
(where property prices have risen far
more dramatically).
As has already been outlined, in the years leading up to de facto partition citrus
products had been the single most important export item and most of them were
grown in the north. Many newly relocated farmers had a new public company to
deal with, Cypruvex, a company founded to facilitate the continued export of the
regions most important crop. Cypruvex Ltd., was set up in 1974 to take over and
exploit Greek assets in the citrus industry. Increasingly the company concentrated
on the export and marketing of citrus products from northern Cyprus (rather than on
production), but in the immediate aftermath of the "Peace Operation", its activities
were more widespread. Cypruvex is a standard public company, the growers who
used its services had no say in its policies. Some advocated that growers should be
81 Scott 1998. op. cit., pp. 149-154.
&2 ibid., p.151.
274