Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

10:00 am

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the continuing failure to reach agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots of Northern Cyprus; and his further views on the attitude of the Council of Europe following decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on property rights in Northern Cyprus. [29591/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland takes an active interest in the successful resolution of the Cyprus question. The UN has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement and the Government fully supports the leadership of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Representative Alexander Downer in this important work.

We will continue to encourage progress towards the achievement of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state through an honourable, balanced and durable settlement protecting and guaranteeing the basic rights of all Cypriots. We encourage Turkey to bring its influence to bear in supporting a durable settlement – something I discussed with the Turkish Foreign Minister in the course of our meeting in Dublin on 10 March.

The current phase of negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem began in September 2008, under the auspices of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Alexander Downer. By the end of March 2010, over 70 rounds of talks had taken place between President Christofias, the leader of the Greek Cypriots, and Mehmet Ali Talat, the then leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

As Deputies will be aware, Mr Dervis Eroglu was elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in the elections held on 18 April, defeating Mr. Talat. A first round of talks between President Christofias and Mr. Eroglu took place at the end of May. Given the negative positions previously taken by Mr. Eroglu on the negotiations, it was encouraging that the two leaders could agree to continue the talks on the basis of the UN parameters, Security Council resolutions and the landmark joint statements made by Christofias and Talat during their talks in 2008. The two leaders held a further round of talks on 23 June, when discussions focused on property issues. The next meeting between Mr. Eroglu and Mr. Christofias will be held on 9 July.

Both sides have said that they wish to find a solution by the end of 2010. While much needs to be done before agreement can be reached, I believe that the necessary momentum is present.

Regarding property rights in Northern Cyprus: in the case of Demopoulos v. Turkey in March this year the European Court of Human Rights determined that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) provided an accessible and effective framework of redress in respect of complaints about interference with property owned by Greek Cypriots. This Commission was set up in 2005 by the Turkish Cypriot community as a means of recourse for displaced Greek Cypriots.

There have been previous judgments, including the interstate case of Cyprus v. Turkey, which have been transmitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, responsible for supervising the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe met in June to discuss the implications of the Demopoulos decision and whether it could conclude that Turkey had now implemented fully that part of the Cyprus v. Turkey judgment dealing with property rights of displaced persons. Cyprus opposed closure of this matter and raised a number of questions which it felt ought to be addressed prior to adopting a final closure resolution on this aspect of the Cyprus v. Turkey case. A number of states, including Ireland, felt that questions raised by Cyprus merited a response and asked the Council of Europe Secretariat, responsible for advising the Committee of Ministers on the execution of judgments, for further information and clarification before making a decision on closure. The Committee of Ministers will meet again in September to consider the matter.

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