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Property issue to be resolved in negotiations not in court
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CyprusTHE PROPERTY issue will be resolved at the negotiating table and not in the courts, President Demetris Christofias said yesterday, commenting on the European Court of Human Rights’ recent decision to recognise the property commission in the occupied north.
Christofias said that when the courts were taking decisions not in the interests of the Turkish side, including interstate and individual cases like the Orams, both sides in the talks had pointed out that “these issues cannot be solved at a legal level”.
“This is a procedure which I do not wish to undermine under any circumstances. However, the property issue and other aspects of the Cyprus question will be resolved at the negotiating table,” he added.
Christofias said Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would try to use the ECHR’s decision regarding recognition of the immovable property commission (IPC) in the talks.
“We have our positions too,” he said, noting that “the so-called commission was set up by Turkey, the occupation force, it is not a legal institution of the self-styled ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and this is clear in the court decision”.
He added that “such a commission will not operate after a solution of the Cyprus problem”.
The president said it was up to the two leaders to decide in common what system will operate following a solution and what priorities will be given regarding the property issue.
“The court decision has political aspects which we have already examined. The property issue was examined during more than 18 meetings I have had with Talat and we will continue this effort,” he added.
Christofias was commenting on statements made by Talat that the ECHR ruling highlights the way to solve the property issue in Cyprus.
The ECHR ruled on Friday that the IPC is an effective domestic remedy as far as property claims are concerned and that Greek Cypriots must first exhaust all domestic remedies before resorting to the ECHR, including the ‘high administrative court’ in the occupied areas.
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charlie from uk comments:
I spent time in Bosnia and there the people called themselves Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats...they are Bosnians first, Croats/Muslims/Serbs second.....see the parallels?
reality from nicosia comments:
bob, iam really impressed by what you say, why cant there be more people like you, all the best............
Downunder comments:
It has been said before so one more time will not hurt – there is no room for compromise.
40,000 troops together with 180,000 illegal settlers must first return to Turkey before there can be any form of discussion. The President of the Republic of Cyprus is wasting his time chatting with the representative of Cypriot Turks.
He should be chatting with the President of Turkey. Until the two real presidents sit down at the table nothing is going to happen. So the ROC should build the Berlin Wall and stop wasting time.
The Turkish Cypriots are puppets of Ankara so why bother wasting time with them. After 36 years they are mindless and pro Turkey something that will never change.
Hasan Has from Girne/KKTC comments:
How sad!
Everytime I read comments regarding Cyprus problem I see people still resist to understand other side.
Especially those GCs who call TCs to come and live together, under RoC. Because apparently we are all happy and love each other. But then immediately they go on how TCs are bad and Turkey is invader, apparently for NO REASON, and it is all our (TCs) fault!
I think some people have to start thinking harder, do some brain gymnastics, it may be that one day they are capable to ask themselves:
"Is it possible that our side did something wrong?"
We have one saying:
"The only one that does not make mistakes is GOD"
BOB comments:
I presume nothing. I was just pointing out that you seem to have fixation about events since 1974 and appear to show little interest in the events prior to that, as you new post confirms. Well I am assuming that “I know first hand from my husband and his family all Greek cypriots originally from Famagusta what they went through and how many family and friends they lost during the continued struggles” applies to post 74, so perhaps I am being presumptuous. Until Greek speaking Cypriots acknowledge that to a point that they brought the events of 1974 onto their selves I see little chance of a solution (OK I know people will say Turkey were looking for an opportunity, but unfortunately some idiots gave them that opportunity). It seems to be the way of the people, kill what ever gets in the way of what you want, including a number of British Servicemen. Interesting you also talk about Greek Cypriots, does that mean they came from Greece, in that case why all the complaints about people from Turkey or is it that you think it is a Greek island and Turks have no place there, or did you mean Cypriots that speak Greek, something totally different.
Alex comments:
and just as an after thought Bob perhaps what is more sad is that you presume to know all I know after one posting by myself here. I know first hand from my husband and his family all greek cypriots originally from Famagusta what they went through and how many family and friends they lost during the continued struggles
Alex from Larnaca comments:
I know the history I merely took offence at Claire from Kyrenia's comments (which have since been removed) which stated that the gc were cowards who didn't fight hard enough and therefore had no right to their land that she was living on. I have lived on this island for over 30 years I know the faults on both sides but to call gc vermin I personally thought was out of order
BOB from Cyprus comments:
Alex. Read some history prior to 1974 and see the real issue. So sad that so many people seem to think all the problems started in 1974. Come and speak to my friends who were forced out of their home years prior to that and some of their family MURDERED as were many Turkish speaking Cypriots.
phil from uk comments:
Alex
i seem to remember greek cypriots had a greek army behind them.
Alex from Larnaca comments:
@Claire, OMG are you gc or tc or just some brit who cashed in on someone elses misfortune. Go read the history of the war in 74 because at one point the gc had the turks pushed back to kyrenia but because the un got involved and the green line was drawn the gc had to pull back and let the turks keep it, un's decision not the gc. Your comments are vile and and injust towards all involved. I'm sure if your own family had been forced out of their homes and massacared you would feel very differently. For the record I am a brit so please don't accuse me of xenophobia!!!
Emir Soler from TRNC comments:
European Court of Human Rights ruling means one thing and one thing ONLY.
'
Cyprus is SOLD.
the boss from earth comments:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1155858.html
Benvenisti suggests we pay attention to the "diplomatic" statements made in the ruling. The judges take into account the warring sides' responsibility to end the conflict, noting the Turks voted in favor of the Kofi Annan plan, while the Greeks rejected it by a large majority. The judges were aware the Turks had responded positively to the proposal, even though it included a demand for the limited return of refugees to the north - in accordance with agreed upon criteria - and most important, the Turks had established a reliable mechanism for settling the refugees' claims.
However, the injured side that decides to wait until the end of time will one day wake up to discover his rights have become obsolete.
JT from uk comments:
to the tc's who think the echr decision is a victory, read what i have said etc....in my previous
Under the banner headline pyrrhic victory, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (10.03.10) in its front page reports that former Turkish Ambassador Tugay Ulucevik evaluated ECHRs ruling regarding the recognition of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) set up by Turkey in the occupied areas of Cyprus as an effective domestic remedy. He said that those, who described this decision as a victory, accept that Turkey is an occupier and the TRNC is illegal.
NOW U UNDERSTAND WHO IS TE BOSS! ITS THE ROC.......
Bob comments:
Christoph from USA: "Turk side claims a big victory with the ECHR ruling, but is it? It's only a victory if they use it before the settlement. So they better start writing checks real fast! After a settlement all sides will reassume their property rights."
How do you work that one out? The precedent has been set, whether you settle before or after a settlement, the parameters of the property issue according to the ECHR remain the same.
trixi from girne comments:
HEHE when it comes to a tight corner he talks off resolving it on the negotiation tables,
But a few months back when the orams lost their case, there was no mention of that negotiation table! His pants are on fire now.
Maybe they the presidents on both side can pull a trick out of the hat and have a solution in the next couple of days.
And you guys in the South should come and get your moneys as soon as possible while its on offer!
Who knows a time may come soon when they say there was a time limit to apply and that has lapsed.
Politicians are not to be trusted.
Christoph , what you so worried about the big payments for ! Told you before and telling you again.
There are trillions invested in the North they the big investors are more then happy to cough up the money to have clear tittles it only makes their investment more solid. Hotels marinas palatial mansions worth millions , you think someone who has a two million villa will not pay a few hundred thousand more ?
It is a victory for the turks,the next victory will be direct flights, after that don't think there will be much more to talk about really.
This is not my views this is reality.
Christoph from USA comments:
Turk side claims a big victory with the ECHR ruling, but is it? It's only a victory if they use it before the settlement. So they better start writing checks real fast! After a settlement all sides will reassume their property rights.
Nick Lescure from London comments:
Adonis and Kyrernian are one and the same person. Why is he trying to deceive the readrship like this?
For my two cents worth what Kyrenian recommends is exact way of losing Kyrenia for Hellenism forever. What is wrong with these extremists? Why haven't they bothered to learn the lessons of Asia Minor Hellenism (1919-1922)? Sharing sovereignty on the island with Moslem Cypriots is the only way forward if they wish to have rights in Kerenia, o'wise full partition and independence for KKTC will result, and eventually EU membership for KKTC.
(Also look and learn on Kosovo recognition which soon Greece will consent to for NATO and EU memberships, in exchange for support on Macedonian name dispute from B. Obama/H. Clinton.)
david from EU comments:
as a gc with land in the north I dont give a flying f what happens to it, all i want is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ of compensation, and you can stick all of northern cyprus, and i bet 90% of gc's feel the same. after all who wants that rundown, overgrown bit of dirt when we can live in the built up EU south with $$$$$$$$$$ so I hope that you lot decide to keep it. after all it saves us selling it.
Nick Lescure from London comments:
ECHR ruling brilliant result all aroung.
gibratsi from London UK comments:
The politicians have been 'trying' since 1963, so perhaps people can see through them now.The politicians are impotent and cannot con the public any more.So perhaps the future of our island is in the hands of individual GCs and TCs and as a last resort the ECHR.
Europa comments:
36 years and our president thinks he can solve the property issue through negotiations between both sides? What exactly has been solved during this last 18 months of talks - anything? If so, it's time he told the people what.
JT comments:
terence, calm down tiger grrrrr.....
what i said yesterday has been voiced by talat as follows, so please read the whole of the detail rather than skim over it
[01] Talat stated that ECHRs decision sheds light on how the property issue will be solved during the solution process
Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (09.03.10) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, evaluated the latest decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as regards the recognition of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) set up by Turkey in the occupied areas of Cyprus as a effective domestic remedy, and said that it brought an opening on the property issue which has created a deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations.
Mr Talat made these statements yesterday, speaking at The position of the women at north Cyprus and the world conference, organized by the KAMU-SEN Trade Union.
Mr Talat stated that the decision of the ECHR sheds light on how the property issue will be solved during the solution process and added that the decision has confirmed what he and the Turkish side says on the property issue.
The Turkish Cypriot leader went on and added that the decision of the ECHR is not a victory, but is one of the decisions that can open the road for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Mr C Sense comments:
More double talk from Mr Christofias
This must be his best since "by voting against a solution we are voting for a solution"
Will the real Mr Christofias stand-up please
as from kyr comments:
try
John Turner comments:
The decision by the ECHR is not a victory for the GC or TC, it is a victory for commom sense. The politicians made this mess, hopefully now they will sort it out. This should have been settled years ago. As time passes things have become more complicated. Everything in the past has been so negative from both sides, whilst the real people in the middle the ordinary man and woman have endured hardship for to long. The leaders from both sides need to realise they have a responsibility to find a solution.
Hasan Has from Girne/KKTC comments:
What a change of tone from Christofias. He loved to see many cases at a personal level coming to EU courts. He always used the previous court decision, i.e. Orams to try and dictate what he wanted in the talks! He also knows very well that there are individual other cases awaiting in the EU courts against RoC regarding atrocities to TCs in 1960s events. He certainly would not like to wait to see the outcome of these.
Well anyway the current tone is better and the right one.
Lets hope he is stong enough to solve the problem with the right balance.
Terry comments:
Only in their dreams. The cat is out of the bag and the courts will decide. The greek Cypriots have lost big time on this decision by the ECHR and deservedly so.