The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a verdict in the case where Turkey is accused of its military intervention to Cyprus in 1974 and leaving the island divided ever since.
According to ntvmsnbc, the court ordered Turkey to pay 90 million euros for damages. While 30 millions will be distributed between those families who lose members during the military intervention, 60 will be allocated to Greek Cypriots in Karpass Peninsula.
The Greek Cypriot Administration has initially filed a complaint saying that 1,491 Greek Cypriots have disappeared and 211 were dislocated after the military intervention in 1974.
Initially held in 1996, the court ruled that Turkey violated European Declaration Human Rights Articles 1,2,3,5,8,9,10 and 13 at the end of the hearing on May 10, 2001.
While the court didn’t reach a verdict regarding pecuniary damages, it still kept the right for Greek Cypriot applicants. On the other hand, the ruling against Turkey was taken with a majority vote - 16 against 1.
In 2011, the Greek Cypriot Administration applied to ECHR, reclaiming the damages part of the verdict.
Davutoğlu: Non-binding ruling
Prior to the announcement of ECHR verdict, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu responded a press inquiry as follows:
“This case has been brought to the public attention after 10 years. This is absolutely non-binding for the international law nor it has any meaning for us [Turkey]. Not only that it has flaws in judicial sense, but it is also wrong in terms of timing. It has occured at a time when extended peace negotiations have taken up speed with the initiative of Turkey, it hasn’t been psychologically right for the negotiations. If such decision is taken, it won’t align with the psychological atmosphere regarding the peace negotiations in Cyprus.” (NV/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
