Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-12-07
CONTENTS
[01] ECHR - REFUGEE - DAMAGES
[01] ECHR - REFUGEE - DAMAGES
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has unanimously awarded a
Greek Cypriot refugee 800,000 euros in respect of pecuniary damage for
being prevented from living in her home and having access to, using and
enjoying her property in the Turkish-occupied eastern town of
Famagusta.
The Court also awarded Myra Xenides-Arestis 50,000 euros in respect of
non-pecuniary damage and 35,000 euros for costs and expenses.
In its judgment in the case Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey (application no.
46347/99), the ECHR says ``the case concerns a Cypriot national who has
been prevented from living in her home and having access to, using and
enjoying her property since August 1974 following the conduct of
military operations in northern Cyprus by Turkey in July and August
1974.``
The Court welcomes ``the steps taken by the Turkish government in an
effort to provide redress for the violations of the applicant`s
Convention rights as well as in respect of all similar applications
pending before it.``
It notes that ``the new compensation and restitution mechanism, in
principle, had taken care of the requirements of the decision of the
Court on admissibility of 14 March 2005 and its judgment of 22 December
2005.``
The ECHR was referring to the ``Immovable Property Commission`` set up
in 2005 in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus ``to examine
applications under the law and decide on the restitution, exchange of
properties or payment of compensation.``
|