ANKARA - Ankara has considered decision of Council of Europe (COE) about the Loizidou case ''unfortunate and unethical attitude''.
Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent on Friday that decision of COE about the Loizidou case, the only court verdict which has not been put into practice yet, was an obstacle that should be removed to record progress in Turkey's European Union (EU) adjustment process.
Recalling that Turkey had maintained its initiatives for exclusion of the case from the agenda till November 12 and a compromise had been reached in principle on the issue of frame except for wording, sources said that COE's taking the fourth decision while Turkey had still been waiting for a response to its proposals was an unethical attitude.
Referring to the latest decision of COE including a time restriction, sources described it as unsatisfactory, and expressed their regret.
''However, it is not the end of the world,'' them commented.
Sources said that the decision should be neither underrated nor exaggerated.
Stressing that Turkey had preserved its will to maintain initiatives for exclusion of the case from the agenda, sources said that consultations and deliberations had been continuing.
''We are still hopeful that the process would result in compromise,'' they noted.
Referring to an expression in the decision saying that necessary measures would be taken if Turkey failed to comply with decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), sources said that such necessary measures, in fact, existed neither in status not in regulations of COE.
''However, the method of exposing could be used or Turkey could be put pressure in its bilateral or multilateral relations,'' they said.
Sources noted, ''if the committee decides to take measures, this decision will require a consultation process of months. After a compromise is reached to take measures, the committee can put its decision into practice.''
Noting that finding a solution to the issue till mid-2004 was of critical importance, sources said that a decision would be taken in this period for Turkey's EU membership process.
On November 12, the delegates committee of the COE, which convened at the level of ambassadors, asked Turkey to pay a compensation to Greek Cypriot woman Loizidou till November 19 at the latest as a requirement of the decision of the ECHR.
(UK) 14.11.2003