STRASBOURG - Turkey is ready to pay a compensation to Greek Cypriot woman Titiana Loizidou in line with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), but insists on postponement of implementing a part of the decision about the content till 2005.
Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that there was not any problem in payment of the compensation, however, the part of the decision about taking under guarantee Loizidou's returning to her home in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) constituted the main problem.
Sources said that Turkey did not want to implement this part of the decision before December of 2004 when a decision would be taken whether or not to open accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU).
The EU countries taking part in the Council of Europe (COE) request fulfillment of the decision before December of 2004.
While Turkey wants postponement of this part of the decision to prevent any connection between Turkey's EU membership process and the Cyprus question, EU countries say that Loizidou's returning to her home should be taken under guarantee.
During meetings of the delegates committee, Turkey says that it would put into practice the decision in 2005 only after a solution was reached in Cyprus.
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, adding that it could take some measures against Turkey if it failed to comply with the decision.
This time frame will expire tomorrow.
The committee noted that member countries were obliged to fulfill decisions of the ECHR, and criticized Turkey.
The committee has taken three decision about payment of compensations since 1998.
(UK) 18.11.2003