ERCAKICA: “GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE’S STANCE REGARDING THE ORAMS CASE DOES NOT REFLECT THE REALITY”

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that the Greek Cypriot administration by evaluating the British Court of Appeal’s decision to refer certain points of the Orams case to the European Court of Justice as a “victory”, was directed towards misleading the public opinion.

In a written statement issued yesterday (21 June), Spokesman Ercakica pointed out that the British Court’s ruling meant that the case filed by Greek Cypriot Meletis Apostolidis, who claims that the land on which the Orams property had been built belonged to him, was not accepted.

Ercakica said the Court’s ruling also explained that the British High Court could not enforce an earlier ruling by a court in South Cyprus against Orams couple.

Continuing, Ercakica said:

“British Court of Appeal in its ruling dated 19 June 2007, has decided to refer certain points of the Orams case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). It’s expected to take two years for the ECJ to prepare its view regarding the case. At the end of this period, British Court of Appeal would give its final verdict by taking into the consideration the decisions of the ECJ. During this period, an earlier decision by the British High Court will be valid.”

Ercakica stressed that the important point was that last year’s ruling by British High Court on the case was still valid and this meant that the rightfulness of the Orams case has been approved once again.

Ercakica said despite all these facts, the reflection of the issue as a “victory” by the Greek Cypriot officials was far from the reality.

Ercakica continued:

“Despite this fact, the Greek Cypriot administration was not satisfied with the statements made by the lawyers of Meletis Apostolidis, and the Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas evaluated the Court of Appeal’s decision to refer the case to the ECJ as `positive`.

The Greek Cypriot administration is trying to mislead the public opinion.

British High Court previously decided that it could not enforce an earlier ruling by a court in South Cyprus which ordered the demolition of the Orams couple’s home in Lapta and seizure of the couple’s assets in Britain, as the EU acquis communitaire is not being implemented in North Cyprus.