Chair of the IPC, Veçhi: "A Total of 7,734 Applications Filed, 1,840 Resolved"

Speaking to the Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK), Veçhi provided insights into the IPC's work.

Veçhi explained that the IPC is a body that evaluates claims of rights over movable and immovable properties in TRNC territory, examining applications and issuing binding decisions regarding property restitution, exchange, or compensation.

"5,894 Applications Are Ongoing at Various Stages"

Providing further details, Veçhi stated: "As of September 13, 2024, a total of 7,734 applications had been submitted, and 1,840 of these have been resolved. The Commission has awarded a total of £467,060,546 in compensation to date. Additionally, 15 applications have been resolved through restitution, two through exchange and compensation, and one through exchange. Furthermore, 10 applications were completed under Law No. 13/2008, whereby the properties were purchased from the Greek Cypriot owners through the IPC."

Veçhi noted that 5,894 applications are still ongoing at different stages. Of these, 3,739 have had opinions filed, but for 2,215 of these, additional documents are required from applicants for proceedings to continue. A total of 1,524 applications have been given a hearing date. Once the missing documents are provided, a hearing will be scheduled to finalize the applications. The IPC meets every Thursday at 10:30 to review around 50 cases and aims to reach amicable settlements. Since October 2021, the IPC has resolved 432 cases and is working intensively with stakeholders to finalize applications as soon as possible.

"The Ministry of Finance Is Responsible for Payments"

Veçhi also clarified that the length of the IPC process depends on the applicant's and the defendant ministry's fulfillment of responsibilities. Factors such as the time taken by the Department of Lands and Surveys to prepare reports and the submission of supporting documents by applicants can affect the duration of the process. Recently, applicants and their lawyers have faced difficulties obtaining necessary documents from relevant institutions in the Republic of Cyprus, which has led to delays.

Payments are made independently of the IPC by the Ministry of Finance, using funds allocated in the annual budget. Veçhi added, "According to information from the Ministry of Finance, compensation payments totaling £297,137,484 for 1,161 applications have been made, and property transfers have been completed. Payments for all cases finalized by 2021 have been completed, and compensation payments are continuing rapidly. Additionally, compensation for a pre-Demopoulos case from the Xenides-Arestis group has recently been paid, and the applicant confirmed receipt."

"The Fact That IPC Decisions Are Recognized by the ECHR Is Gratifying"

Veçhi emphasized that the IPC operates in a solution-oriented, active, fair, transparent, and efficient manner. The recognition of the IPC's decisions by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is highly gratifying. He stated, "Applications from 26 Greek Cypriots alleging violations of property rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, have been resolved by the IPC, resulting in compensation of £26,458,420. The applicants have informed the ECHR that the IPC's decisions have been implemented, leading to the withdrawal of their cases from the ECHR, which has deemed them inadmissible."

Regarding the establishment of the IPC, Veçhi explained that it was created under the Immovable Property Law (67/2005) in December 2005, following rulings in the Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey case. The Commission was recognized as an effective domestic remedy for property claims by Greek Cypriots after the European Court's 2010 decision in the Demopoulos and Others case. Following this ruling, many property claims against Turkey were redirected to the IPC as the recognized domestic legal avenue.