In what many believe to be a landmark decision, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the TRNC immovable property commission constitutes a domestic remedy for property cases filed by Greek Cypriots. The ruling also means that ECHR recognizes there is a functioning legal order in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is in accordance with international law.

A panel of 17 judges in the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Greek Cypriots must now appeal to the TRNC’s immovable Property commission if they want compensation, restitution or exchange of their former properties before a settlement.

The Court declared eight pilot cases filed by Greek Cypriots inadmissible and said that the IPC was “an effective remedy” to hear property cases.

As a result of the landmark ruling, Greek Cypriots seeking compensation, exchange or restitution for their properties will now have to exhaust all domestic remedies in the TRNC before applying to the ECHR in Strasbourg.

With the ruling, the 1400 or so Greek Cypriot cases lodged with the ECHR on property cases are now set to be referred to the TRNC Property Commission.

The ECHR decision is final and not subject to any appeal to either the court or any other body in fact.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has said that the Greek Cypriot Side should derive lessons from the ECHR ruling and to work towards settling the Cyprus Problem, including the property issue, through comprehensive negotiations with the TRNC.

A statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministery once again underlined the need to solve the property issue, one of the thorniest issues in the Cyprus Problem, through a negotiated settlement on the basis of UN parameters.