Turkey fails to meet Euro court deadline for Loizidou

THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday that Turkey had failed to comply with the Titina Loizidou compensation deadline.

Thalia Petridou, the government’s permanent representative in Strasbourg, told CyBC yesterday that Turkey had failed to pay the £320,000 in compensation following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favour of Loizidou.

“It seems that Turkey is not prepared to pay the compensation now or in the immediate future,” ambassador Petridou told CyBC from Strasbourg.

She said Turkey had no legal excuse for avoiding the punishment: “There is no more room for Turkey to manoeuvre.”

Turkey has tried to divert attention by adopting a European Commission on Human Rights decision, which it says is contrary to the court’s.

Yesterday was the last day for Ankara to comply with the court decision obliging Turkey to pay the money for denying refugee Loizidou access to her Kyrenia home and property.

Any decision on action against Ankara has been postponed until December 18, when a European ministerial committee will meet to examine the situation.

Ankara claims it has no responsibility for what goes on in the occupied areas and says the court should address its complaints to the Denktash regime.

“Come December 18, Council of European ministers can step up pressure on Turkey to comply and we will have a clearer picture by then,” said Petridou.

Although Turkey disputes the “landmark” ruling for Cyprus, there is no precedent of a member state failing to comply with a Court decision.

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