Foreign Ministry: Fulfillment Of Requirement Of Loizidou Decision Will Not Constitute An Example For Future

ANKARA - The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that fulfillment of requirement of the decision of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) asking Turkey to pay compensation to Greek Cypriot citizen Titiana Loizidou would not constitute an example for the future.
A statement of the Foreign Ministry said that ECHR's decision on Loizidou was excluded from agenda with the decision adopted by the Council of Europe (COE) committee of delegates today.
The statement noted that declaration made by Turkey during the meeting of the committee of delegates which stressed the understanding about fulfillment of requirement of ECHR's decision on Loizidou case was noted down and registered by the decision adopted by the committee.
''Thus, the understanding that fulfillment of requirement of the decision on Loizidou case will not constitute an example for the future has been adopted,'' the statement said.
The statement pointed out that Turkey had also explained its approach to Cyprus issue and the Commission of Compensation of Immovables formed in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
By another decision, the Committee decided that talks on implementation of the decision made by ECHR on Loizidou case in 1996 would not start before the end of 2005, the statement said.
The statement noted, ''thus, we aimed to prevent a possible development which may affect negotiations regarding Cyprus issue.''
''The mentioned decisions are in line with Turkey's approach and meet Turkey's expectations. Although we consider fulfillment of requirement of Loizidou decision unfair and wrong, our move shows that we fulfil our common obligation to preserve esteem of ECHR. Also, an element preventing progress in our relations with COE and European Union has been removed,'' the statement added.
DENKTAS: TURKEY IS OBLIGED TO FULFILL REQUIREMENT OF LOIZIDU DECISION TO SAVE HONOR OF COURT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Tuesday that Loizidu decision was a political decision and it was used as an unacceptable pressure tool on Turkey, adding that Turkish Republic was obliged to fulfill the requirement of decision to save the honor of the court.
Denktas made a writeen statement and said that there were few Turkish properties in Greek Cypriot side which were not destroyed or recorded under Greek Cypriot registration. He added that when their compensation was demanded, Greek Cypriot leaders answered 'after consensus' and if those issues were tried to be solved by individually, 30-40 years would be needed. He said that no lands remained which did not change hands in TRNC and the process was functioning in accordance with TRNC laws. He noted that if this property was not registered, Turkish Cypriots would not have economic activities for 30 years and not make investments and would be left to rot as Greek Cypriots did so.
Denktas said that their decisions were measures taken for peace, stability and continuation of economic life. He added that insisting on solution of these issues within Loizidu case meant to destroy the solution of Cyprus issue.
AMBASSADOR NUMAN HAZAR: ''LOIZIDOU CASE CAN NOT SET A PRECEDENT TO APPLICATIONS OF GREEK CYPRIOTS''
Turkey's Permanent Representative to Council of Europe (COE) Numan Hazar said on Tuesday that, ''case of Titiana Loizidou could not set a precedent to the applications of Greek Cypriots made to the European Court of Human Rights.''
Addressing the delegates committee of COE, which convened in level of ambassadors, Hazar said although compensation was paid to Greek Cypriot woman, Turkey officially raised its objections and reservations onto agenda and made them registered.
In the objections that were added to the decision of Ministers Committee, it was stated that although Ankara paid compensation as a requirement of ECHR decision, it was stressed that this case would not set a precedent to the other applications made by Greek Cypriots. Turkey's determination on the issue was also stated.
Hazar said Greek Cypriots from now on had to apply to a legal office set up in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), stating that address of the following applications absolutely would not be Strasbourg.
Stressing that Turkey wanted political solution of Cyprus question and expended support to the efforts in this respect, Hazar said they expected ECHR not to make such mistakes on political issues from now on.
(BRC-GC-AY) 02.12.2003