"Strasbourg's decision next month to guide future cases
Friday, February 4, 2005
An European Court of Human Rights decision on the admissibility of a Greek Cypriot complaint is to effect thousands of other complaints against Turkey
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Ankara and Greek Cypriots have been waiting for a precedent decision from the European Court of Human Rights as it could pave the way for thousands of other cases against Turkey, accusing it of preventing Greek Cypriots of using their properties since 1974.
The 10-member Third Section of the court is to hold a hearing next month on the admissibility in the case of Greek Cypriot Myra Xenides-Arestis vs. Turkey. It's attributed high importance to next month's decision as the case is accepted as a �test case� for other Greek Cypriot complaints.
Ankara asserts that there are domestic remedies to exhaust before appealing to the European Court of Human Rights, reminding of the existence of a commission on compensations established in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) in June 2003 to handle property matters.
However, the Greek Cypriots reject the commission's legitimacy saying the KKTC is not internationally recognized, thus the commission is not an effective legal means. If the court decides the remedies indicated by Turkey are satisfactory; then the Greek Cypriot appeals should not be referred to Turkey or the European Court of Human Rights, but to the KKTC commission. "
Turkish Daily News