President Tufan Erhürman raised concerns about the Greek Leadership’s attempts to obstruct applications from Greek Cypriots to the Immovable Property Commission. He questioned what reasons lie behind the obstruction of applications to this Commission, which has been deemed acceptable by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
In a statement made via social media, the President referenced news reports from the South Cyprus press, highlighting that these reports emphasized the intention to obstruct Greek Cypriots’ applications to the Immovable Property Commission. Erhürman stated that resolving the property issue in Cyprus can only be achieved through a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
Recalling that he has consistently made statements on this issue in the past, Erhürman expressed that the establishment of the Immovable Property Commission provides a mechanism through which Greek Cypriots can submit applications regarding their property rights. He also noted that the Commission has been recognized by the ECHR as a compliant and effective domestic remedy under international law.
However, Erhürman pointed out the difficulties in maintaining such a mechanism, stating that they strive to address issues as they arise but emphasized that the Immovable Property Commission needs to become more effective.
Addressing the claims of Turkish Cypriots regarding their properties left in the south, the President remarked that there is no similar mechanism in southern Cyprus. He noted that Turkish Cypriots attempting to utilize other mechanisms often encounter the expression ‘after the solution.’
Questions Raised by Erhürman
Erhürman posed several questions concerning these matters. Among these questions were, “Why is there an attempt to obstruct applications to the Immovable Property Commission recognized by the ECHR?”, “Can the property issue in Cyprus be resolved with criminal law tools?”, and “Does this situation lead to trust-building between Turkish and Greek Cypriots, or does it lead to tensions?”
He also questioned whether the law would be a tool for protecting individuals’ rights or merely an instrument of politics under these conditions. Erhürman emphasized that he continuously conveys these questions to all relevant parties in the international community and will continue to communicate them more effectively.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
