Attorney General Petros Clerides said on Thursday that the Republic of Cyprus had objected to the appointment of two Turkish Cypriot judges for cases before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) because of their capacity in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation and not because they are Turkish Cypriots.
He added that the Republic of Cyprus believes the two judges could not be objective in the specific posts at the ECHR, noting that it was now up to them to prove their objectivity.
Speaking at a press conference, Clerides said this was not the first time that Turkish Cypriot judges had been appointed for cases before the ECHR, and that on certain occasions the Republic of Cyprus had not objected and on others had.
Referring to the recent appointment of the two judges, Metin Hakki and Gionul Eronen, Clerides clarified that the objections were filed ”not because they are Turkish Cypriots but because of their capacity in the occupied areas.”
Hakki is ”president” of the so-called supreme court and Eronen is a judge at the same ”court” in the Turkish occupied areas. Clerides said that both have pledged faith to the ”constitution” of the puppet regime, which could clash with their judgement at the ECHR.
Replying to questions, Clerides said the Republic of Cyprus had explained the reasons for the objection, which was dismissed without further explanation so far.
Clerides also said a state has the right to appoint judges in cases against it, without the judges necessarily being citizens of that particular state. The two Turkish Cypriot judges, appointed by Turkey, ”surely have a citizenship” other than the one of the pseudostate.
Asked if the appointment of these judges would adversely affect the outcome of the cases, Clerides said Hakki was appointed for 38 cases concerning the properties of Greek Cypriots in the Turkish occupied areas and Eronen to hear nine cases of missing persons.
He furthermore said that ”it is now up to the two Turkish Cypriots to prove their objectivity.”
Asked whether Turkey appointed the two Turkish Cypriot judges to create impressions, Clerides said he did not know the reasons. ”It obviously creates some impressions but it anyhow had the right to do so,” he added.
Turkey, which occupies Cyprus’ northern part since its troops invaded in 1974, has been found guilty of human rights violations in this part of Cyprus, in relation to property rights and the fate of missing persons as well as the rights of their relatives.
The Court, in its rulings on different cases the Republic of Cyprus and individuals have filed against Turkey, has described the Turkish Cypriot regime as “a local subordinate administration†to Turkey.
Ankara, the Court added, by virtue of the presence of its occupation troops exercises effective control in occupied Cyprus and is therefore responsible for what happens there.
