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Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday criticized the continued review of a long-running European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) case involving property claims by displaced Greek Cypriots, arguing that political considerations are preventing the matter from being closed.
"Türkiye is deeply concerned about the erosion of the European Convention on Human Rights system for political reasons," ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said.
Keceli was referring to the "property rights of displaced persons" section of the ECHR's 2001 Fourth Greek Cypriot judgment, which remains under the supervision of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.
The issue was discussed again during the committee's June 9-11 meeting in Strasbourg. The case remains under review despite the Council of Europe Secretariat having recommended since 2022 that supervision should end because the necessary obligations have been fulfilled, Keceli highlighted.
The Committee of Ministers also tasked the Council of Europe Secretariat with preparing a draft study on the interpretation of property-related wording in the ECHR's 2014 compensation judgment. The move follows an exceptional procedure typically used when the implementation of a court ruling becomes difficult because of differing interpretations.
Calling the latest developments "unprecedented," Keceli argued that they stem from the Greek Cypriot side's efforts to politicize the European Convention on Human Rights system "in a way that serves its own aims."
Keceli argued that the Greek Cypriot side had "chosen the path of obstructing the effective functioning of the Convention system" and had once again demonstrated "its insincerity regarding the solution of the Cyprus issue."
Türkiye will continue to closely follow the matter in consultation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), he added.
The TRNC Foreign Ministry echoed Ankara's criticism, arguing that all obligations under the judgment have already been fulfilled.
The ministry said the Council of Europe Secretariat has repeatedly concluded that supervision of the property rights section is ready to be closed, but that political pressure from the Greek Cypriot administration has prevented that from happening.
"The Greek Cypriot side's politicization of this essentially legal and technical process has prevented the Committee from bringing supervision of this cluster to a close," the ministry said.
It also stressed that the committee's latest decision does not concern the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), which handles property claims in Northern Cyprus.
According to the ministry, the ECHR has repeatedly ruled that the IPC is an effective legal remedy, most recently in a judgment issued in June 2025. The TRNC said it remains committed to supporting the commission's work and ensuring its continued operation.
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