"Council of Europe adopts Loizidou resolution against Turkey

THE Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe voted yesterday to adopt the resolution urging Turkey to comply with a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the Titina Loizidou case, concerning the continuous violation of human rights of Greek Cypriots.

Turkish counter-measures failed to prevent the resolution being passed with an overwhelming majority, delivering Turkey "a slap in the face", according to Achilleas Demetriades, Loizidou's lawyer.

Last year the European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkey to pay around £500,000 to Loizidou as compensation for depriving her of her right to enjoy her property in Kyrenia, which has been occupied by Turkey since its 1974 invasion of the island.

Turkey has so far refused to pay Loizidou, despite several deadlines and extensions, claiming it is not liable for the occupation of the north of Cyprus.

The decision by the Committee of Ministers clears the way for other cases, said Demetriades. He said it proves the Greek Cypriots right when they say Turkey is to blame for human rights violations in Cyprus.

The vote had been postponed from late last month, after a British proposal and an overriding decision by the committee chairman which bypassed the rules governing the functioning of the committee.

Diplomatic sources said at the time that the postponement took account of developments in the Cyprus problem, considering that Turkey might react negatively to any decision against it at that point."