110
CYPRUS v. TURKEY JUDGMENT
PARTLY DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE FUAD
1. I voted against the finding of the majority of the Court that there had
been a continuing violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 by the respondent
State by virtue of the fact that Greek-Cypriot owners of property in northern
Cyprus were being denied access to, and the right to control and enjoy, their
property without compensation for the interference with their property
rights. Unless the Court, as presently constituted, was persuaded that the
judgment of the majority in the Loizidou case was wrong, this decision was
to be expected.
2. With great respect, in my view the majority has not given sufficient
weight to the causes and effects of the ugly and catastrophic events which
took place in Cyprus between 1963 and 1974 (which literally tore the island
apart) or to developments that have occurred since, particularly the
involvement of the United Nations. I have found the reasoning in some of
the dissenting opinions annexed to the Loizidou v. Turkey judgment of
18 December 1996 (merits) (Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1996-VI)
cogent and compelling. They stress the unique and difficult features of what
might be called the Cyprus problem.
3. Judge Bernhardt (joined by Judge Lopes Rocha) made a number of
observations about the present situation in Cyprus and the effect that it had
on the issues before the Court. He said:
“1. A unique feature of the present case is that it is impossible to separate the
situation of the individual victim from a complex historical development and a no less
complex current situation. The Court's judgment concerns in reality not only
Mrs Loizidou, but thousands or hundreds of thousands of Greek Cypriots who have
(or had) property in northern Cyprus. It might also affect Turkish Cypriots who are
prevented from visiting and occupying their property in southern Cyprus. It might
even concern citizens of third countries who are prevented from travelling to places
where they have property and houses. The factual border between the two parts of
Cyprus has the deplorable and inhuman consequence that a great number of
individuals are separated from their property and their former homes.
I have, with the majority of the judges in the Grand Chamber, no doubt that Turkey
bears a considerable responsibility for the present situation. But there are also other
actors and factors involved in the drama. The coup d'état of 1974 was the startingpoint. It was followed by the Turkish invasion, the population transfer from north to
south and south to north on the island, and other events. The proclamation of the socalled 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', not recognised as a State by the
international community, is one of those events. The result of the different influences
and events is the 'iron wall' which has existed now for more than two decades and
which is supervised by United Nations forces. All negotiations or proposals for
negotiations aimed at the unification of Cyprus have failed up to now. Who is
responsible for this failure? Only one side? Is it possible to give a clear answer to this
and several other questions and to draw a clear legal conclusion?