Head of the Republic of Cyprus` Permanent Representation in Strasbourg Theodora Constantinidou has submitted two memorandums to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, reporting Turkey`s stance towards the recognition of the rights of Greek Cypriots to property in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, and for its efforts to confiscate that property through the so-called property commission.
The memorandums were submitted on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus in order to assist the Committee of Ministers in monitoring the proper execution of the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case Cyprus vs Turkey and for the governments of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe to understand that Turkey`s demand to close this case must not be accepted as it would be unfair and unjustified.
The first memorandum contains the reasons for which the issue should not be closed and notes that Turkey, instead of committing itself to the rulings of the ECHR, which acknowledge that the enclaved persons and their heirs maintain their title deeds for their properties and homes, and pays the damages awarded or give back the properties, has developed a system of regulatory measures, which conceals the policy of the creeping confiscation of property.
The Ministers will have to understand this and not be influenced by what Turkey presents as purported compliance to the decisions of the Court, the memorandum notes.
Regarding the law Turkey implements to regulate property issues concerning Greek Cypriots, the memorandum points out that, out of the 98 chapters of the law, only nine have been translated and sent to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for the execution of ECHR rulings.
However, none of these chapters explains the way in which the rights of Greek Cypriots are protected in regaining their properties in the occupied areas, and even the experienced legal advisors the Cypriot government has hired cannot answer this question, it adds.
The memorandums note that Turkey appears only in words to accept that the beneficiaries of the owners of property in the occupied areas have the same rights as the Turkish Cypriots.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.