http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=26485&archive=1

Quote:

Free to go home
By Simon Bahceli
(archive article - Thursday, June 22, 2006)

Turks allow two refugees to go home and offers cash to a third

TWO Greek Cypriots and their families are free to move back to homes they abandoned 32 years ago, the newly-formed Turkish Cypriot ‘property commission’ said yesterday.

Another Greek Cypriot, a commission statement said, has been offered financial compensation for property he or she lost, but no longer wishes to use.

“All three applicants got what they wanted,” head of the commission Sumer Erkman told the Cyprus Mail yesterday, adding: “They have all been contacted and have accepted our offers without the need to revert to the courts.”

Erkman, however, refused to disclose the identities of the three successful applicants on the grounds that they could face intimidation from other Greek Cypriots who believe that applying to the commission is harmful to the Greek Cypriot cause.

Yesterday’s offer came from a body born out of a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling last December ordering Turkey to find “effective domestic remedies” to property disputes stemming from the displacement of Greek Cypriots during the invasion in 1974.

The two properties to be returned are both in the north eastern village of Akanthou, Erkman said. A third applicant was offered cash in return for their property “because that is what they wanted,” she added.

Under recent changes in Turkish Cypriot law, properties belonging to displaced Greek Cypriots can be returned immediately if they are not being used by a citizen of the breakaway state, the ‘state’ itself, or the military. It is understood that the two properties in Akanthou have remained empty since 1974.

On Tuesday, Erkman told the Mail a total of 13 applications had been made to the commission by Greek Cypriots seeking restitution or financial compensation for lost property. She also said Myra Arestis, a Greek Cypriot whose successful ECHR ruling against Turkey last December triggered the establishment of the commission, had been offered financial compensation for the loss of use of her property in the ghost-town of Varosha, an area currently under Turkish military occupation. Sources say the compensation offered is in the region of £460,000.

Despite finding Turkey guilty of violating Arestis’ right to property, the ECHR last December handed Ankara a chance to redress Arestis’ complaint locally, prompting Turkey to persuade the Turkish Cypriot authorities, acting as its “subordinate local authority”, to set up the commission. It remains to be seen whether the ECHR will accept the commission’s offer to Arestis and the other three Greek Cypriots as providing a “genuine remedy”.
Yesterday, a source close to the commission in the north said an announcement from the ECHR could be expected “any time in the near future” and that it would come only after Turkey delivers a report on the working and rulings of the commission. He added that he also expected Turkey to highlight statements made by the Cypriot government advising its citizens not to apply to the commission because it was against “national interests” – something which he said the court might see as an attempt to hamper its work.

Opposition to the commission comes not only from the Cyprus government but also from elements within the breakaway state itself. The north’s former rulers, the National Unity Party (UBP), sought a court ruling that would brand the commission’s work

unconstitutional. The claim was, however, rejected yesterday by a north Nicosia court.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=26487&archive=1

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The paper noted that the body, which is composed of five Turkish Cypriots and two foreign experts, is these days constantly in session, examining applications for return and/or compensation.

The commission’s offices are located at Atat?rk Square in northern Nicosia. According to Politis, the first hearings in a case – which typically last a month – are more akin to a land registry process, with the applicant furnishing the commission with the relevant documentation (title deeds, size of property etc.).

Once the commission reaches a verdict on a claim, the litigants are asked to make their closing arguments and remarks. Claimants have the right to appeal the decision, which then paves the way for some “street-style bargaining,” as Politis put it.
In one reported case, the commission offered a refugee a payout that was 50 per cent less than what the applicant was asking for. Eventually, after hard negotiations, the refugee was offered a much better figure.

By agreeing to such a ‘friendly settlement’, claimants must then sign a document waiving any further claim and declaring that they will drop their case before the ECHR.

Compensation – paid by cheque – is said to be processed quickly, taking only five days to a week after a case has been closed. The money may be deposited at a Turkish bank in the occupied areas or alternatively transferred to a third bank abroad.

There are even clauses ensuring that the claimant does not lose money due to any currency exchange fluctuations taking place between the date of the verdict and the actual payout.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RACIST AND EXTREMIST CHANTS OF PEOPLE LIKE MARIA

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In the south, the dealings have not gone down well with a section of the press.
One incensed Simerini columnist yesterday said that “all those taking recourse to the commission are collaborating with the enemy and are guilty of high treason.”

“Whoever works with the enemy, in any way, betrays his country,” riled the author.

“But instead of spelling this out, the government, like a doting parent, has resorted to giving pathetic advice to its citizens that they should avoid the commission.”

The TC are the enemy That is just pathetic.

brother wrote:

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=26487&archive=1

Quote:

The paper noted that the body, which is composed of five Turkish Cypriots and two foreign experts, is these days constantly in session, examining applications for return and/or compensation.

The commission’s offices are located at Atat?rk Square in northern Nicosia. According to Politis, the first hearings in a case – which typically last a month – are more akin to a land registry process, with the applicant furnishing the commission with the relevant documentation (title deeds, size of property etc.).

Once the commission reaches a verdict on a claim, the litigants are asked to make their closing arguments and remarks. Claimants have the right to appeal the decision, which then paves the way for some “street-style bargaining,” as Politis put it.
In one reported case, the commission offered a refugee a payout that was 50 per cent less than what the applicant was asking for. Eventually, after hard negotiations, the refugee was offered a much better figure.

By agreeing to such a ‘friendly settlement’, claimants must then sign a document waiving any further claim and declaring that they will drop their case before the ECHR.

Compensation – paid by cheque – is said to be processed quickly, taking only five days to a week after a case has been closed. The money may be deposited at a Turkish bank in the occupied areas or alternatively transferred to a third bank abroad.

There are even clauses ensuring that the claimant does not lose money due to any currency exchange fluctuations taking place between the date of the verdict and the actual payout.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RACIST AND EXTREMIST CHANTS OF PEOPLE LIKE MARIA

Quote:

In the south, the dealings have not gone down well with a section of the press.
One incensed Simerini columnist yesterday said that “all those taking recourse to the commission are collaborating with the enemy and are guilty of high treason.”

“Whoever works with the enemy, in any way, betrays his country,” riled the author.

“But instead of spelling this out, the government, like a doting parent, has resorted to giving pathetic advice to its citizens that they should avoid the commission.”

The TC are the enemy That is just pathetic.

brother, we TC's (and Turks) have always been the "enemy" of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, why do you think they wanted to genocide us in Cyprus in the first place?


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I am NOT just a Cypriot, I am a PROUD TURKISH CYPRIOT and my home country is the TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, KUZEY KIBRIS TURK CUMHURIYETI.

Eric Dayi wrote:

brother, we TC's (and Turks) have always been the "enemy" of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, why do you think they wanted to genocide us in Cyprus in the first place?

on the contrary, Turks are haters of Greeks and Cypriots.


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Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus

Pitsilia wrote:

Eric Dayi wrote:

brother, we TC's (and Turks) have always been the "enemy" of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, why do you think they wanted to genocide us in Cyprus in the first place?

on the contrary, Turks are haters of Greeks and Cypriots.

You lie through your teeth. It wasn't us Turkish Cypriots who wanted to genocide the Greek Cypriots in 1963 for ENOSIS, it was you Greeks and Greek Cypriots who tried to genocide us.

The GC's hate for us TC's was also proved by a poll that was carried out by you Greek Cypriots only a few months aga where it very clearly states that the mojority of GC do in fact hate us TC's and do not want to live with us. I am sure you were one of those GC's in the poll that said you hate us and don't want to live with us. And I am sure that you voted No to the Anna Peace plan.

Stop lying now and come out with the truth.


_________________
I am NOT just a Cypriot, I am a PROUD TURKISH CYPRIOT and my home country is the TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, KUZEY KIBRIS TURK CUMHURIYETI.

Can you say anything else other than 'you lie'

the hate is on both sides... and you cannot tell me that Turks like Greeks (GC's)?


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Turkish Troops Out of Cyprus

Pitsilia wrote:

Can you say anything else other than 'you lie'

Yes, when you don't lie.

Quote:

the hate is on both sides... and you cannot tell me that Turks like Greeks (GC's)?

Are you aware of the polls and the results of these polls?

Oh look, I sad something else other than "you lie".


_________________
I am NOT just a Cypriot, I am a PROUD TURKISH CYPRIOT and my home country is the TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, KUZEY KIBRIS TURK CUMHURIYETI.

Pitsilia wrote:

Can you say anything else other than 'you lie'

the hate is on both sides... and you cannot tell me that Turks like Greeks (GC's)?

Also,

The TC's voted for peace and to live together in peace, you GC's voted against peace mainly because you don't want to live with us thus proving your hate towards us TC's.


_________________
I am NOT just a Cypriot, I am a PROUD TURKISH CYPRIOT and my home country is the TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, KUZEY KIBRIS TURK CUMHURIYETI.

Quote:

brother, we TC's (and Turks) have always been the "enemy" of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, why do you think they wanted to genocide us in Cyprus in the first place?

I don't really want to get into a pissing contest but Eric, can you tell me what events took place in Turkey in 1955?

Michael wrote:

Quote:

brother, we TC's (and Turks) have always been the "enemy" of the Greeks and Greek Cypriots, why do you think they wanted to genocide us in Cyprus in the first place?

I don't really want to get into a pissing contest but Eric,

Then why are you?

Michael wrote:

can you tell me what events took place in Turkey in 1955?

You make a start and I'll contribute, that is if you want to get in to a "pissing contest".

But anyway, I am just wondering, I was under the impression that this forum was about the Cyprus Problem and the thread is "FREE TO GO HOME OR GET COMPENSATION" and not about the events of 1955 in Turkey. Are you trying to divert attention from what the Greeks and Greek Cypriots did to us TC's for 11 long years from 1963 to 1974 by trying to start a conversation about Turkey?


_________________
I am NOT just a Cypriot, I am a PROUD TURKISH CYPRIOT and my home country is the TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS, KUZEY KIBRIS TURK CUMHURIYETI.