President Christofias at Federation working lunch: ECJ ruling on property case must be exploited efficiently

London, May 2 (CNA) – President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has said the European Court of Justice ruling on the Apostolides vs Orams case, “must be exploited efficiently at the negotiating table without raising extreme positions”.

Describing as awkward the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot side following the ruling on a property case, brought before the court by a Greek Cypriot refugee against a British couple who have usurped his property in the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, President Christofias said many fear that Greek Cypriots will now begin resorting to the courts.

Speaking during a lunch hosted in his honour by the National Federation of Cyprus in the UK, Christofias, who is in London on a private visit, assessed that the Cyprus problem and its property issue will not be solved in the courts.

Referring to the issue of timetables, President Christofias pointed out the next two dates, December 2009 when Turkey will have to account to the European Union and April 2010 when the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will either continue to lead the Turkish Cypriot side or not.

President Christofias said that Turkey follows a policy which does not favour its positions and all those who support her must understand that she must help herself first.

”Together with Greece, we support the full accession of Turkey to the European Union. However, not without preconditions. Turkey must implement the Copenhagen criteria and cannot continue without punishment to occupy 37% of a county that is a full member of the European Union. It should recognize the Republic of Cyprus, open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and planes”, he added.

President Christofias described Talat’s reaction to the European Court of Justice ruling on Apostolides vs Orams case, as unwise issuing press releases that contain threats. “That is bad”, the President added.

The European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that a judgment of a Court in the Republic of Cyprus must be recognized and enforced by the other EU member states even if it concerns land situated in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

The Court’s ruling refers to the Apostolides vs Orams case and came after a dispute had arisen before the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, which has requested a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice, between Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, and British couple David and Linda Orams, in relation to the recognition and enforcement of a judgment of the District Court of Nicosia.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Cypriot President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Talat have begun early September 2008 direct negotiations with a view to reaching a solution of the Cyprus problem and reunifying Cyprus, which has been divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The Cypriot President returns home tomorrow.