Reactions from the occupied area of Cyprus to the conviction of Turkey by the ECHR due to the 1974 invasion of Cyprus

Reactions from the occupied area of Cyprus to the conviction of Turkey by the ECHR due to the 1974 invasion of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Kudret Ozersay has alleged that the decision announced yesterday by 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 enclaved persons in occupied Karpas peninsulacould harm the negotiating process due to its timing.
Ozersay argued that Turkey had taken some “improving steps” regarding the above-mentioned violations after the decision taken in 2001 and that the decision that it should pay compensations in spite of these steps is “wrong and problematic”. He alleged: “We are talking about 2001. Having that decision as starting point, the Property Compensation Commission (PCC) has been established. The Turkish Cypriot side has taken some concrete steps regarding the former Greek Cypriot properties. In spite of the fact that steps had been taken in the desired direction, they returned to the very beginning and took a decision for compensation. This will not influence the work of the PCC, but it is tantamount to ignoring all that has been done in a trice”.
Ozersay alleged also that steps have been taken on some issues regarding the Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in Karpas and these steps have been inspected by the ECHR Delegates Committee. He alleged that if the Greek Cypriot side feels that it wins when it waits and punishes Turkey, the reasons it has for reaching an agreement will be decreased. “Moreover, I do not think that the proposals brought by the Greek Cypriot side on the property could become any harder”, he claimed.
Meanwhile, Turkish Anatolia news agency (13.05.14) reports that Serdar Denktas, self-styled deputy prime minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus and chairman of the Democratic Party – National Forces (DP-UG), alleged that “the decision is political” and went on claiming that “it has been taken to punish Turkey and satisfy the Greek Cypriots and Greece”. He argued that both Turkey and the “TRNC”, the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, should re-examine their relations with the European Union (EU). “We have to think again how much we can trust the EU which has exhibited such an approach with this decision”, he argued. Denktas expressed the view that no negotiations should be held as long as this decision is not fully annulled. Denktas alleged that with this decision, the EU has given the message that it does not want Turkey.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (13.05.14) reports that the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway regime and chairman of the Republican Turkish Party – United Forces (CTP-BG), Ozkan Yorganciogluhas claimed that the decision was not a correct one and “it is an issue open for debate”. He argued that the on-going negotiations in Cyprus will be influenced by this decision and added: “If the ECHR would take a decision on this issue, it should have made its timing well”.
Kibrisli reports also that Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP), alleged that the decision of the ECHR is not binding and that the Turkish Cypriots should react against this decision. “What is this decision taken during the period of the negotiations? This is another aspect of the misfortune”, he claimed.
Furthermore, the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), Cemal Ozyigit has said that the Cyprus problem should be solved in order for these lawsuits to end. “We hope that it will not influence the negotiations process”, he noted adding that the decision should not be seen as an issue that will prevent the negotiations.
Finally, the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Izzet Izcan pointed out that the decision was not a surprise and added: “The substance of the issue is that a comprehensive solution in Cyprus is a necessary condition. The property structure in Northern Cyprus is contrary to the international law…” Izcan said that the way of eliminating this situation is the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that Turkey should be included in the solution the soonest