European Court of Human Rights orders Turkey to pay compensation for the 40 years occupation of Cyprus

 

Written declaration of Georgos Loucaides. AKEL C.C. Press Spokesperson

Monday, 12th May 2014, Nicosia

With its decision today regarding the “fair satisfaction” (Article 41, ECHR) of the Republic of Cyprus, following the decision of the 4th Interstate Application in favour of the Republic and against the Republic of Turkey, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Turkey to pay compensation worth 90 million Euros.

Today’s decision is a vindication of the application correctly filed by the Republic of Cyprus in June 2012. Although in no case can the compensations erase the consequences of the tragedy of 1974, the decision constitutes a partial vindication of the relatives of the missing and enclaved persons in the occupied areas. The re-condemnation of the illegal invasion and continued occupation by Turkey is a moral vindication and adds another powerful argument to our cause, for a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.

We welcome this positive development by which it is demonstrated that the battles won in any arena are the ones fought. In no case, however, must such legal successes be cause for complacency, since the tragic consequences of the invasion and the current status quo cannot be lifted except by a comprehensive political solution to the Cyprus problem. This is also proved by previous negative decisions of the ECHR. These decisions are not negated and continue to lead on a day-to-day basis to losses of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.

We reserve the right to set out a more detailed position when the decision in its entirety will be studied thoroughly.