The Chairman of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) Növber Ferit Veçhi has welcomed the Council of Europe’s decision to close the Loizidou case.

“Even though this was a delayed decision, the outcome is positive for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Türkiye,” Növber told the Anadolu News Agency.

Evaluating the Council of Europe’s decision in an interview with the Anadolu News Agency, the head of the TRNC Immovable Property Commission (IPC) Növber Ferit Veçhi said that the decision confirmed that the commission was an effective domestic remedy in settling property disputes in Cyprus.

The IPC reminded that the commission had been set up in 2005 following a ruling against Türkiye in the Xenides-Arestis case.

“The Greek Cypriot administration is not very happy to see its citizens applying to the property commission regarding the property they left behind in the north and they are doing everything in their power to dissuade people,” he said.

Veçhi said that the delay in closing the Loizidou case was the result of an environment created by the Greek Cypriot administration and countries close to it.

“The IPC which is a domestic remedy, is a commission which the European Court of Human Rights recognizes and which is set up within the framework of the European Convention of Human Rights,” he said.

The IPC head said that so far 459 applications had been filed for areas opened and which still remained closed within the fenced-off town of Maraş.

“The proceedings concerning properties located in the pilot zone are continuing. We will begin processing the applications once the files are reviewed by the Interior Ministry and the Attorney General’s office. There are an increasing number of applications coming in regarding property in Maraş,” he added.