Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (14.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has described as “political”the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordering Turkey to pay the Republic of Cyprus the total sum of EUR 90,000,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage suffered by the relatives of the missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and the Greek Cypriot enslaved persons in occupied Karpas peninsula.
In statements yesterday during one of his meetings, Eroglu alleged that “such a decision during such a period overshadowed the negotiations” and that “this is an action aimed at strengthening the Greek Cypriots”.
Eroglu argued that if the world wants an agreement in Cyprus, the foreign countries and especially the EU should be careful during such actions. He alleged that it is wrong to think that an agreement could be reached by “spoiling” the Greek Cypriot side, that two “equal peoples” exist in Cyprus and that the Turkish Cypriots have been struggling for years to live freely on these lands.
In addition, Illegal Bayrak television (14.05.14) broadcast that the self-styled presidency issued a statement in response to the European Court of Human Right’s judgment ordering Turkey to pay compensation for the 1974 invasion.
The statement alleged that the ECHR ruling of “lacking any legal basis, of contradicting with the principles of justice, of being politically motivated and of choosing to ignore those really responsible for the tragedy in Cyprus and punishing the innocent”.
The statement also drew attention to the timing of the judgment, claiming that such a decision which came at a time when negotiations on the substantive issues had begun is significant.
“Such an unfair decision which serves to give one of the two parties a political and psychological advantage over the other one is truly thought-provoking” the statement claims adding that if anyone was to receive compensation, it must be the Turkish Cypriots “who have been subjected to all kinds of human rights violations, including international embargoes and isolations”.
The statement also accused the Republic of Cyprus of exploiting the European legal system for its political purposes. “The ECHR has once again ignored the suffering of the Turkish Cypriots. Turkey on the other hand is being punished for saving the Turkish Cypriot people from atrocities and being massacred. This is the ECHR’s justice and history will judge this decision” the statement clams.