CYPRUS: In a landmark decision, the Turkish government has agreed to pay a woman €1.2 million in damages for denying her the peaceful enjoyment of her property in northern Cyprus, occupied by Turkey in 1974.
Ms Titina Loizidou said she was pleased that Turkey has finally agreed to implement a 1996 judgment by the European Court of Human Rights. "As an individual and a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus," she said, "I benefited from the Council of Europe's most significant achievement, namely the 50- year-old European Court of Human Rights."
A Greek Cypriot refugee from the coastal town of Kyrenia, Ms Loizidou decided to apply to the court as an individual in March 1989 following an attempt by the Women Walk Home movement to cross the Green Line which divides the island. A number of women were seized by the Turkish army and "we were released 10 hours later to the United Nations".
"Later I filed the application for being prevented from returning home. Home for women is very important ... this incident was the beginning of \ walk to Strasbourg."
She said the judgment of 1996 mentioned that she was not only denied the enjoyment of her property but also prevented from going home during four marches organised by the movement. Although the decision to pay damages has been made, Ms Loizidou has not yet seen the money.
She was clear about what she planned to do: "I would be inconsistent if I do not use the money for the development of my property to live in Kyrenia."
She has a deep attachment to her grandfather's house there where she spend her formative teenage years. It is now a hostel for migrant workers.
Her father, one of hundreds of Greek Cypriots held for nine months by the Turkish army at a seafront hotel in Kyrenia, encouraged her to pursue her case. "He died a few months ago and is not here with us to witness the implementation of the judgement of the court."
Her lawyer, Mr Achilleas Demetriades, told The Irish Times: "By being forced to make this payment, Turkey in effect recognises it is responsible for human rights violations in the occupied areas."