Statement of the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the execution of the property cluster of the 2001 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the fourth Greek Cypriot application

The execution of the property cluster of the 2001 judgment of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the fourth Greek Cypriot application remains under the supervision of the Committee of Ministers Delegates of the Council of Europe. This cluster was examined by the Committee during its meeting held in Strasbourg on 9–11 June 2026.

In its successive assessments, the Secretariat of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly concluded that we have fulfilled all obligations incumbent upon us under the judgment and has consistently maintained that supervision of this cluster is ready to be brought to a close. Nonetheless, the Greek Cypriot side’s politicisation of this essentially legal and technical process has prevented the Committee from bringing supervision of this cluster to a close.

At present, the Committee has instructed the Secretariat to prepare a draft text concerning the interpretation of certain references relating to the property issue in the ECtHR’s 2014 just satisfaction judgment in the Fourth Greek Cypriot Application. Through its decision adopted today, the Committee chose to take a procedural step aimed at examining the draft once it has been prepared.

Taking advantage of its holding of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and with the support of certain member states, the Greek Cypriot side has politicised an issue of a legal and technical nature. In doing so, it has jeopardised the effectiveness of the supervision mechanism entrusted to the Ministers’ Deputies. In an effort to overcome the deadlock and obstruction created by the Greek Cypriot Administration, the Committee was compelled to resort to such a manoeuvre.

The decision in question is in no way related to the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). Furthermore, the Committee of Ministers has no mandate to assess or determine the effectiveness of the IPC.

The sole authority competent to rule on the effectiveness of the IPC is the European Court of Human Rights. Indeed, the Court has consistently held in its case-law that the IPC constitutes an effective domestic remedy, most recently reaffirming this position in its judgement of June 2025.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus remains committed to providing all necessary support to ensure the continued effective functioning of the Immovable Property Commission, which constitutes the cornerstone of the property regime in our country.