The Immovable Property CommIssIon of the TurkIsh RepublIc Of Northern Cyprus Is a ValId DomestIc JudIcIal Remedy

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which was set up  with the aim of establishing an effective domestic remedy for claims relating to abandoned properties in Northern Cyprus, is a valid domestic judicial remedy whose jurisdiction extends to Greek Cypriots.

The Grand Chamber said the applications on eight cases were inadmissable, highlighting that the Turkish Cypriot commission "was an appropriate domestic body, with access to the relevant information, and clearly the more appropriate forum for deciding on complex matters of property ownership and valuation and assessing financial compensation."

The verdict means that from now on Greek Cypriots will not be able to launch court cases against Turkey at the European court prior to seeking redress with the IPC and sets a precedent for approximately 1,500 property cases pending at the European court. The ruling is also significant to show that IPC’s functioning, which is in accordance with the international law, is recognized by the ECHR.

PrIme MInIster Eroglu: “The European Court of Human RIghts’ recognItIon of a CommIssIon In TRNC Is very Important”

Premier Derviþ Eroglu said that the European Court of Human Rights’ recognition of a Commission in TRNC is very important and he is very pleased with the ruling.

Mr. Eroglu commented on the ruling of the The European Court of Human Rights after his return to the republic on friday after completing his contacts in the Turkish capital Ankara. About the ruling, the Premier said that they were given an advance notice of signal and “this is a very important and a pleasing ruling”.

The Premier said that the Greek Cypriots who have applied for and are unsatisfied with the proposals of the Immovable Property Commission, still have the rights to apply for The European Court of Human Rights. And he noted the fact that there probably be unsatisfied applicants because of pressure imposed upon them from the Greek Cyprus Authorities and the Greek Orthodox Church. Briefly Eroglu said:

“The European Court of Human Rights’ ruling is very important for TRNC. It should not be considered that we will end up with victory in the negotiations. There are six chapters on the negotiation table. There are people who want to create an atmosphere that Cyprus Issue is about to resolve, but we are not at that point yet. We have to see the Greek Cypriot party’s reaction first. We need to see what will be the claims of the Greek Cypriot applicants. Consequently, the European Court of Human Rights’ recognition of a Commission in TRNC is very important. To reach that end, President of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Government and the Ambassador of EU spent considerable effort.            

Davutoglu: “RulIng made by the European Court of Human RIghts Is a hIstorIc decIsIon and must be understood very well”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu evaluated the ruling made by the European Court of Human Rights that the TRNC immovable property commission as “a historic decision” and added that “this must be understood very well”.

“IPC’s effectiveness as a domestic remedy has been confirmed with the judgement of the ECtHR. Moreover, after declaring IPC as an effective domestic mechanism, it became imperative for the citizens of the Greek Cypriot Administration to bring their claims primarily before the IPC and to seek a solution for the immovables of which they claim to possess in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus before 1974.” said Mr. Davutoglu.

Noting that the ruling by the ECHR should have an easing effect and positive role on the two sides during the negotiations process, Mr. Davutoglu said on the property issue, this decision will have an important advantage in trying to achieve an improved and just solution on the issue.
We appreciate this ruling said Davutoglu and added that the ruling also means that the ECHR recognizes there is a functioning legal order in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is in accordance with international law.

From now on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Immovable Properties Commission has become the authorized body to deal with this issue, he added.   

FOREIGN MINISTER OZGURGUN: “A SOLUTION WOULD BE EASY IF THE EQUAL STATUS OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS IS ACCEPTED”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun stated that a settlement could be achieved in Cyprus within the framework of the red lines and would be easy if the equal status of the Turkish Cypriots is accepted.

Speaking during a conference entitled “The past, today and the future of Cyprus” at the Political Sciences Department of the Ankara University on Friday (5 March) Foreign Minister Ozgurgun pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot people had established Turkish Resistance Movement in order to struggle against the aggressions by Greek Cypriots and managed to come to these days by giving a strong struggle.

Explaining that the Greek Cypriots have deceived the international community for years with an argument to the effect that the Turkish Cypriot people were a minority in Cyprus Ozgurgun said however the Turkish Cypriot people has never been undaunted by this.

Reminding that many proposals have been presented and efforts spent for the two peoples to survive on the island Ozgurgun said however the Greek Cypriots, who have rejected all the proposals for a settlement, acted and still continue to do so with the desire to dominate the whole island.

Stating that he had attended for five years to the studies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) before his ministerial duty and tried to explain the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people at every platform Ozgurgun said the Greek Cypriots have always gave false messages to the world and tried to ignore the existence of the Turkish Cypriots even at the studies of the Council.

Stressing that Turkish troops had stopped the bloodshed and brought peace to the island in 1974 Ozgurgun said since than the Cyprus Island has been the most secure island in the world.

Ozgurgun emphasized that the negotiations would continue for the future of Cyprus and said their aim is to continue the negotiations with goodwill and reach a comprehensive settlement at the end.

Explaining the Greek Cypriot Parliament’s recent decision rejecting the guarantee system Ozgurgun said the decision was very wrong and TRNC Parliament’s decision which stressed the vital importance of guarantees for the Turkish Cypriot people was the best answer in response to the Greek Cypriot Parliament’s decision and added that the importance of guarantees was non-contestable.

Noting that the TRNC was standing on its own feet with all its institutions and continuing to develop Ozgurgun said all the measures have been taken for overcoming the difficulties and developing the economy in the country and the TRNC’s 18 representative offices abroad have been continuing to spend efforts for explaining the Turkish Cypriot people’s just cause to the world.

CLINTON INVITES PRESIDENT TALAT TO WASHINGTON

President Mehmet Ali Talat has received an invitation from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Washington by the end of this month.

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has confirmed the said invitation, but added that President Talat has not yet decided whether to accept the invitation or not.

PRESIDENT TALAT ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY

President Mehmet Ali Talat has officially announced his candidacy for the 18^th of April Presidential elections on Saturday with a rally organized at the Lefkosa Ataturk Sport Center.

Speaking here Mehmet Ali Talat said during the 18^th of April Presidential elections the Turkish Cypriots would be making a decision regarding their future.

He said ‘5 years ago we had started a new era now we have gathered here today to bring this even further. This is a great meeting and we have no intentions of stopping half way. We will move further ahead’, he told the gathers.

He concluded his speech by saying ‘as President I am not promising you the past but the world’.

39% PERCENT OF GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE IN FAVOR OF “DIVISION”

In a public survey carried out in South Cyprus, 39% percent of the Greek Cypriots who participated in the survey said they are in favour of “division” with regard to the type of a solution in Cyprus.

The survey was carried out by Symmetron Market Research Company on behalf of the Greek Cypriot daily Kathimerini between 17-24 February 2010 and 800 individuals were interviewed. According to the results of the survey 39% percent of the participants are in favour of “division”, 37% are in favour of federation as a type of solution of the Cyprus problem and 24% in favour of the continuation of the current situation and 15% in favour of an absolute division with distribution of certain amount of land.