Turkish Cypriots begin filing complaints with Ombudswoman

OMBUDSWOMAN Eliana Nicolaou yesterday told the House Human Rights Committee that Turkish Cypriots had started filing complaints involving the violation of their human rights.

During her presentation of her annual report, Nicolaou said she had received more than 1,600 complaints during 2002, out of which the Ombudswoman’s office had responded to 1,459, while 404 were classed as groundless. A smaller number of cases were not investigated because they involved personal cases or incidents that took place more than 12 years ago, or simply were not her responsibility.

Nicolaou said that although still few in number, Turkish Cypriots’ complaints raised issues that “were of concern”.

Complaints mainly involved issues regarding the acquisition of title deeds and other certificates from the Land Registry Department; Nicolaou said the department’s delays in dealing with requests were unacceptable, despite some recent improvements.

“We aim to enable Turkish Cypriots to feel that my office is there to serve them in the same way it serves Greek Cypriots,” Nicolaou said.

“Some other issues had to do with the management of Turkish Cypriot property, and whether Turkish Cypriots living abroad could claim their property back or whether it was listed as abandoned,” she added.

Nicolaou said other issued put to her office by Turkish Cypriots had to do with the issuing of passports and identity cards, something she said had been taken care of, as well as with the situation of Turkish Cypriots living in the Limassol area.

“We have carried out an investigation on the Rom population in the Makounta area in Paphos, and another investigation that has to do with Turkish Cypriots living in the Limassol area is also being completed,” she said.

“The report could show the problems that groups of Turkish Cypriots living in the free areas are facing.”

Turkish Cypriots can file their complaints to the Office of the Ombudswoman in Turkish.

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