The Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhürman, addressed reactions to the recent Committee of Ministers’ decision of the Council of Europe, clarifying that it is a procedural matter and does not question the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). The IPC, established following the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings in 2001 and 2005, has been repeatedly recognized as an effective legal mechanism by the Court. Erhürman stated that the Committee authorized the Secretariat to prepare an interpretative draft on part of the 2001 ECHR decision relating to the property issue, but no interpretation request was immediately pursued.

Erhürman emphasized the need for a special majority vote in June 2027 to decide whether to seek an ECHR interpretation, and stressed that the IPC’s performance remains unchallenged. He also criticized the Greek Cypriot side for politicizing the legal process, which has hindered monitoring efforts. The Turkish Cypriot leadership vowed to continue legal and diplomatic initiatives on property amid ongoing efforts for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Independent analysts noted the decision may highlight growing frustration with long-standing delays in property compensation and the IPC’s functionality. Critics observed that no compensation payments have been made since January, causing uncertainty and backlog of cases. The Turkish Cypriot side insists that the issue’s resolution is tied to a broader political settlement between the communities.