European court to hear suit

The European Court of Human Rights has agreed to hear a suit by a Turkish-Cypriot opposition party against the participation of Turkish settlers in the electoral process to be held in December in the Turkish-occupied northern section of Cyprus, according to an Athens News Agency report from Nicosia yesterday. The court’s decision, in response to a petition by the Patriotic Unity Movement, was welcomed yesterday by Cypriot Foreign Minister Giorgos Iacovou. According to Council of Europe estimates released in late June, the current number of settlers stands at 115,000, while the Turkish-Cypriot population stood at 87,600 in 2001 — down from 118,000 in 1974, when Turkey invaded the island.
(19.08.03)   Kathimerini English Edition   ()
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