MPs on Tuesday decided to give the attorney-general’s office a fortnight for feedback on some loose ends relating to a bill changing the way in which Turkish Cypriot properties in the south are allocated to Greek Cypriot displaced people.

The bill, amending the law governing management of Turkish Cypriot properties in the south, aims to improve transparency in the allocation of such properties and ensure a fairer distribution among eligible people “based on objective and quantifiable criteria”.

It was the first order of business during the first session of the House refugees committee this year.

During the article-by-article discussion of the legislation previously, certain legal issues came up that must be resolved before the bill can go to the House plenum.

One such issue, according to committee chair Nikos Kettiros, concerns the way in which special areas will be designated where eligible displaced people can bid for a property.

Here, MPs want to include a clause stipulating that the consent of the House refugees committee would be required in designating these special areas.

Kettiros described this clause as “a safeguard aiming to boost transparency and to eliminate the slightest suspicion that, in the future, the special areas would change for reasons other than serving the public interest”.

However, granting parliament such powers might violate the principle of the separation of powers – which is why the attorney-general’s office has been asked for legal feedback.

Another issue relates to whether a lease on a Turkish Cypriot property may be inherited by the descendants of the Greek Cypriot lease holder, whether the lease can end up with someone who is not a displaced Greek Cypriot, and whether the lease is transferrable.

The attorney-general’s office has asked for 15 days to legally vet these proposals and get back to MPs.

Once it does, deputies will resume discussion of the bill, draft the final text and submit it for a vote at the plenum.

Speaking to reporters, Kettiros acknowledged that differences among MPs would likely remain.

“We will never have consensus,” he said. “But we also understand that we must be guided by the need to serve the public interest and get this bill done.”

The properties in question originally belonged to Turkish Cypriots, but due to the events of 1974 and the subsequent displacement of populations, they have come under the management of the Guardian of Turkish Cypriot properties – effectively the interior ministry. The Guardian is responsible for these properties until a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is found.

Greek Cypriot refugees – displaced from the north – should have rights of first use, for which they’d pay a nominal fee.