Greece on Tuesday acknowledged the payment of compensation by Turkey to Greek Cypriot national Titina Loizidou, who sought compensation from that country for depriving her of the enjoyment of her property in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. 

  A foreign ministry announcement said that Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis made the following statement on the outcome of the case:
  ''Turkey is complying with the European Court of Human Rights decision taken on July 28, 1998, with today's payment of fair compensation to Mrs. Loizidou. This decision adjudges this compensation, acknowledging the responsibility of Turkey for violations of the rights of the displaced Cypriots as a result of the invasion and occupation of part of Cyprus.'' 

  A statement by the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, issued earlier, said ''the Netherlands Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has announced that Turkey executed today (Tuesday) the judgment of 28 July 1998 in the Loizidou case by paying to Mrs Loizidou the sum which had been awarded to her by the European Court of Human rights in respect of just satisfaction.'' 

  The statement further said ''the conclusion of this case, which is the result of efforts by all member states, demonstrates the effectiveness of the right of individual appeal available to 800 million Europeans before the Strasbourg Court.'' 

  On his part, Yiannitsis said ''the coordinated efforts of Greece and Cyprus for 5 years primarily aimed, apart from the payment of fair compensation, at safeguarding the prestige of the European court, respect for its decisions and of the values it symbolizes, values which constitute an inseparable element of the European course of every country.'' 

 The alternate foreign minister further said with the payment of compensation the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution ''which we voted against for reasons of principle.'' 

  He added that ''in any case, this resolution determines that this Committee will continue to supervise, in accordance with existing processes and Turkey's compliance with the decision taken by the Court in 1996, the adoption of special and general measures. They must be taken into consideration by Turkey for the restoration of Mrs. Loizidou's right of ownership and the lifting of the illegal situation imposed there. Consequently, Turkey remains accountable to the Council of Europe, as well as to European institutions. The period of time referred to in the text, the end of 2005, on the reconsideration of Turkey's compliance is indicative, it has no legal power and it does not prevent a possible opening of the discussion earlier, provided that members of the Council of Europe raise it. We call on Turkey, being a member of the Council of Europe and a European Union candidate country, to honor the obligations it has, proving in practice the priority it attributes to its European prospect. Lastly, we call on it to proceed with radical decisions which shall give a viable solution to the political problem of Cyprus.''

Source: Athens News Agency

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