A New Lawsuit against Turkey

A Washington law firm has just issued a press release on its multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit against Turkey regarding domestic property issues in the northern third of Cyprus (aka Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or TRNC), which Turkey seized by military force in 1974 and has continued to occupy, currently with 43,000 troops.

It's unsure how far the case will go--similar cases have been filed before-but, for sure, it has been filed at a sensitive time for Turkey in its glacier-speed accession into the EU. The movement for Turkey's accession has been strengthening lately, but will this case slow down or bring attention to the still-standing complicated issues on property in northern Cyprus?

Furthermore, it's curious that the case has been filed right after Greece and Cyprus have said that they support Turkey's accession into the EU. Greece's new prime minister Georgios Papandreou said in a meeting with government officials in Istanbul that he supported Turkey's accession, provided that it further reform itself to better align with EU policies. And today, Papandreou started his two-day visit in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, and has already stressed his support for the country's steady but slow-going efforts to reunify the island-and thus, for Turkey's eventual accession. (One of the preconditions to joining that the EU has set for Turkey is the island's reunification, which the leaders of both sides of the island have been working toward in steady, but slow-going weekly talks since 2008.)

We'll see how this plays out.

The press release below, in full:PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Athan T. Tsimpedes, Esq.
Office: 202-772-3159
October 16, 2009

$400 BILLION DOLLAR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY FOR
DEPRIVING PROPERTY OWNERS THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THEIR PROPERTY.
WASHINGTON, DC.

On Monday, October 19, 2009, a Class Action lawsuit is being filed against the Republic of Turkey for depriving hundreds of thousands of property owners their rights to use and enjoy their property in northern Cyprus. The deprivation of the use and enjoyment of property started with the wrongful invasion and occupation of 40% of the island nation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, that
continues to this day. Despite recent findings of mass murders sites of civilians and others condemned
by the international community, the Republic of Turkey has failed to cooperate with the civilized world.
Unfortunately, the deplorable conduct of the Republic of Turkey continues in cooperation with the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ("TRNC"), an illegitimate and unrecognized government operating
through the presence of the Turkish military. To this day, the TRNC through the use of the Turkish
military deprive the Plaintiffs and the Class the rights to use, enjoy or return to their properties in
violation of international law and the laws of the U.S.

This lawsuit seeks compensation for the denial of the use and enjoyment of the properties belonging to approximately 200,000 refugees and others who were forced to leave by military force, some of whom paying with their lives, by the Republic of Turkey in concert with the TRNC. The Turkish military equipment used to wrongfully occupy and displace the Plaintiffs and the Class from their property was
sold and originated from the United States that by law requires that U.S. military equipment acquired by Turkey not be used in an offensive manner.

This lawsuit is being filed by Washington, D.C.-based attorney Athan T. Tsimpedes, the founding partner of the Tsimpedes Law Firm. Mr. Tsimpedes will hold a press conference at 1:00 pm at the courthouse steps of the US. District Court for the District of Columbia located at 333 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 and will provide copies of the lawsuit.

All questions or requests are to be directed to Athan Tsimpedes at 202-772-3159 or 202-345-4318
END.