Judge Turmen Speaks To A.A. About Loizidou Decision

STRASBOURG - European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Turkish judge Riza Turmen said on Wednesday that payment of compensation to Greek Cypriot woman Titiana Loizidou and abatement of the case was a positive development.
Replying to questions of A.A correspondent, Turmen said, ''failure to implement decisions of ECHR has been giving damage to Turkey for a long time.''
Stating that Turkey was an influential country in Council of Europe and it was in full membership process to the European Union (EU), Turmen said the big obstacle in front of Turkey was removed after payment of the compensation.
When asked about the statement of Turkey made at the end of the meeting covering Turkey's reservations, Turmen said the interlocutor of the statement was not the ECHR, but the Ministers Council that control application of ECHR decisions.
Turmen said statement of Turkey that this case would not set a precedent to other Greek Cypriot applications would not bind ECHR in legal and practical means, stressing that, ''ECHR is free in its decisions. Nobody can intervene in court decision in practical and legal means.''
ECHR judge said nevertheless Strasbourg court in subsequent cases may consider Turkey's proposal and take a decision to discuss Greek Cypriot applications in law office in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) if it deems as necessary.
Turkey on Tuesday paid 1 million 120 thousand Euro compensation to Loizidou.
(AY-AÖ) 03.12.2003