PROPERTY ISSUE AND ACTIVITIES OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY COMMISSION IN CYPRUS

Abstract

One of the most important elements of the Turkish Foreign Policy is the Cyprus problem. With the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, the property issue gained a different dimension. Furthermore, when Turkey recognized the right of individual application to the European Court of Human Rights, the cases of Loizidou and Arestis resulted in favor of the plaintiffs. Accordingly, the general approaches to the property issue in Cyprus significantly changed. On the other hand, Turkey remained between the international law and its struggle for defending Turkish Cypriot rights that are being violated. Currently, Turkey’s this very struggle is in jeopardy due to the legal aspects. Especially with the EU accession of Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus, the developments as regards property issue in Cyprus created advantageous conditions for Greek Cypriots. This study examines the influences of property cases in Cyprus on Turkish foreign policy. The main goal of this study is to shed light on the activities of the Immovable Property Commission in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a mechanism to be applied prior to the ECHR.