The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) asked Turkey to submit written observations concerning two cases of Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, by May 14, 2021.
 
The two cases are “K.V. Mediterranean Tours Limited v. Turkey” concerning a property in Varosha, the fenced-off part of Famagusta, and “Panayi and Shiartou v. Turkey” in Tymbou, a Turkish-occupied village in Nicosia District. Both cases are handled by lawyer Achilleas Demetriades at the ECHR. In the first case, EVKAF, the Directorate-General of Muslim pious and charitable institutions, claims to be a party in the case.
 
Both applicants applied to the ‘immovable property commission’ (IPC), operating in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, to claim restitution of their properties and compensation for the loss of use since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the island’s northern third. They applied later to the ECHR, complaining about the protracted length and ineffectiveness of the proceedings before the ‘IPC’. On January 27, 2020, Turkey issued a unilateral declaration, offering applicants a total of €11,000 as a compensation for the delay, in a bid to close the process before the Court. Applicants refused the offer.
 
The ECHR decided on March 23, 2021, to refuse Ankara’s unilateral declaration. The Turkish government was, therefore, requested to submit written observations on the admissibility and merits of both cases by May 14, 2021. Applicants will then be called to reply. The Cyprus government will be also invited to submit any comments they may wish to make on the parties’ submission.
 
Demetriades told CNA that “both cases are moving on, after Turkey lost pretrial proceedings and is now forced to submit its observations by May 14, 2021.”
 
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. So far, Ankara has not paid damages relating to certain cases concerning missing persons and property claims, awarded by the European Court in Strasbourg to Cypriot applicants, for a number of violations committed in Cyprus during and after the 1974 Turkish invasion.
 
Varosha is the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, often described as ‘ghost town’. UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.