12/5/14

Written statement by the Government Spokesman on ECHR’s judgment


The Government of the Republic of Cyprus welcomes the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights with regard to the claim by the Republic of Cyprus against Turkey for just satisfaction on the basis of article 41 of the European Convention on Human Rights.


It notes, in particular, the reference of the Court that Turkey has not fully complied with the decision of 2001 at the Fourth Intestate Appeal of the Republic of Cyprus against Turkey, and that this compliance is not consistent with any permit, participation or complicity in any illegal sale or exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus also notes with particular satisfaction, the reference that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Demopoulos and Others Vs Turkey does not release Turkey of its obligations for compliance with the decision of the Court on the Fourth Intestate.

It welcomes the adjudication of compensation for the non-pecuniary damage suffered by the relatives of the missing persons in the amount of 30 million euro. It stresses that the efforts will continue until the effective investigation for the ascertainment of the fate of all the missing persons is completed and their identified remains are handed over so that they are buried according to the wishes of their loved ones.

As far as the adjudication of compensation for the non-pecuniary damage suffered by the enclaved persons (in the Turkish occupied areas) in the amount of 60 million euro, and in spite of the fact that the persecution and the suffering they have endured cannot be assessed in monetary terms, the Government of Cyprus welcomes the fact that the Court condemns, in this way, one more time, the Turkish policy of the violations of the human rights of the enclaved persons as well as the effort to change the demographic character of the occupied areas.

The Government expects the immediate compliance by Turkey through the adoption of the necessary measures to stop the illegal exploitation and sale of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas and to pay the damages that have been adjudicated by the Court.

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