Greek Cypriot Administration expressed frustration over the recent decision of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) pointing at the Immovable Property Commission (TMK) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the legitimate address for property claims of Greek Cypriots.

ECHR ruled Friday that Greek Cypriots were required to apply first to TMK Cypriot property commission before they seek redress at the ECHR for immovable properties they left behind in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) after the Turkish intervention.

Spokesman of the Greek Cypriot Administration Stefanos Stefanu said the ECHR ruling was "unacceptable" calling on Greek Cypriots to refrain from resorting to TMK.

The decision was welcomed by both Turkey and TRNC which regarded it as a historic international court ruling, for the first time recognising a TRNC body, and TRNC's right to exercise judicial sovereignty.

Stefanu said he could not understand how ECHR could point at a "unlawful" commission which in his words came around as a consequence of "unlawful" acts of Turkey.

Stefanu who pointed out that the ruling caused many complications, said the enormous amount of work load in the ECHR caused by some 1500 appeals by Greek Cypriots against Turkey played a big role in the decision.

Responding to a question on whether the decision would effect negotiations on the property topic under the ongoing extensive talks between the parties, Stefanu said their theses on the table rested on international law, vowing to continue defending the rights of Greek Cypriots.

Both TRNC and Turkey believe the ECHR ruling will facilitate negotiations on the property topic.

Issue

Gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, Cyprus became a bi-communal Republic where Greek and Turkish Cypriot constituent communities would share power guaranteed by the UK, Turkey and Greece.

However, reluctant to share power and pursuing a policy of Enosis (Union) with Greece, Greek Cypriots soon expelled Turkish Cypriots from power and terrorised and ghettoised them.

Decades long armed attacks on the defenseless Turkish Cypriots culminated in 1974 when an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot military coup on the island led to Turkey's intervention based on its rights stemming from the Treaty of Guarantee.

Although the Republic of Cyprus as described in the 1959 agreements is no longer there, Greek Cypriots continue to enjoy this title and international recognition while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a fully democratic government representing Turkish Cypriots, still suffers under an unfair political and economic blockade.

Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the south rejected the UN reunification plan in twin referendums in 2004 even though the Turkish Cypriots in the north overwhelmingly supported it.

The promise made by EU foreign ministers before the referendums to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and establish direct trade with North Cyprus remains unfulfilled.


AA