IMMOVABLE PROPERTY COMMISSION....NUMBER OF APLICATIONS REACHED TO 42... 

            The Immovable Property Commission which was established in accordance with the law in order to create an internal law procedure for the property issue, one of the key elements of the Cyprus problem, is continuing to evaluate the Greek Cypriot demands for their former property left in the North within the framework of the related law. The number of applications to the Commission has reached to 42. 

            According to the information received by Turkish Cypriot News Agency (TAK) from the Commission officials, most of the applications included the demands for return and compensation of the property and one of them included the demand for exchange. 

            The officials stated that although some of the applications were close to finalize, there has not been any decision given on the rest of the applications since the announcement made in June by the Commission regarding the decisions on three applications. The officials pointed out that they had not yet received any response from Arestis who was offered to be compensated with 460 thousand CYP after filing a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for her ex-property in Varosha. 

            The Immovable Property Commission has concluded 3 of the applications of the Greek Cypriots in June. According to the agreement reached between Greek Cypriots and the Commission without a need to go to the court, the Commission decided to return the former properties of 2 Greek Cypriots in Tatlisu and to compensate one of the applicants upon his/her own request. 

            According to the Immovable Property Law, that ownership or use of which have not been transferred to a natural or legal person other then the State may be restituted provided that the restitution of such property, having regard to the location and the physical condition, shall not endanger national security and public order. If the commission decided to reinstate immovable properties which are under the use of a TRNC citizen by appropriation or if improvement was made, the restitution of such property may take effect after the settlement of the Cyprus problem. Immovable properties of equal value in south are outside the scope of restitution. 

            If the commission decides for compensation this amount shall be paid by the Ministry of Interior, on behalf of the state, and the ownership right of the Greek Cypriot who was compensated shall be lost.

 

TURKISH CYPRIOTS ONCE MORE GO TO ECHR FOR THEIR PROPERTY IN SOUTH  

            Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation applied to the ECHR on behalf of Mehmet Ali Birsen whose property in Yildirim (Celya) in South Cyprus used illegally by the Greek Cypriot side for the building of a military camp.  

            Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation previously in December 2005 applied to the ECHR on behalf of Erdogan Durmus whose property in South Cyprus was used for the building of a power plant. 

            The Head of Board of Trustees of Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation Emine Erk stated that there were lots of applications made to the Foundation by Turkish Cypriots for their properties left in the South and that the Foundation was continuing to take legal steps within the framework of  existing possibilities. Erk explained that the case record prepared by Lawyer Ali Fevzi Yesilada on behalf of Mehmet Ali Birsen was sent to the ECHR on 14 August. Stressing that in the village of Yildirim 3 houses, 20 thousand square meters land and a land of 9 plots owned by Mehmet Ali Birsen were turned into a military camp, Erk said Birsen was deprived of his property without being compensated and his property rights were violated by the Greek Cypriot side. 

            In addition, Erk explained that like many other Turkish Cypriots who left their property in South Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Birsen also had the right to directly apply to the ECHR without searching for domestic remedies since he would not be able to receive an effective result because of the existing law in the South.

 

SERDAR DENKTAS TO GO TO KYRGYZSTAN 

            Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Serdar Denktas this morning (17 August) went to Kyrgyzstan in order to attend to “The International Issyk-Kul Lake-Cyprus Conference” that will take place at the Issyk-Kul Lake which is an important tourism center in the capital city Bishkek. 

            Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas who will have the opportunity to explain the Cyprus issue directly in the Turkish Republics of Central Asia will talk about the Cyprus problem during the first session of the Conference on 18 August. 

            The Conference which will take place between 18-23 August is organized jointly by Kyrgyzstan Parliament Foreign Relations Department, Friendship Group of Kyrgyzstan-TRNC Parliaments and TRNC’s Representation Office in Kyrgyzstan.            

            TRNC Delegation during their visit to Kyrgyzstan will have bilateral contacts with delegations form Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan as well as Kyrgyzstan.