THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS UPHELD A RULING ON THURSDAY THAT ORDERED TURKEY TO COMPENSATE GREEK CYPRIOTS WHO LOST PROPERTY WHEN THE ISLAND WAS PARTITIONED, REUTERS REPORTED. TURKEY HAS THREE MONTHS TO COMPLY WITH THE RULING. THE ISLAND WAS PARTITIONED AFTER A TURKISH INVASION IN 1974 FOLLOWING A BRIEF GREEK-INSPIRED COUP. A BREAKAWAY TURKISH CYPRIOT STATE IN NORTHERN CYPRUS IS RECOGNISED ONLY BY ANKARA. THE EMOTIONAL ISSUE OF PROPERTY, EVERYTHING FROM FARMS TO HOTELS AND FAMILY HOMES, HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST OBSTACLES TO A REUNIFICATION OF CYPRUS. 'THIS RULING HAS BECOME DEFINITIVE,' A COURT SPOKESMAN TOLD REUTERS. THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAD SENT THE COURT A LETTER ON THE ISSUE WHICH COURT OFFICIALS WERE STUDYING, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE APPLICANT, MYRA XENIDES-ARESTIS, HAD LODGED A CLAIM FOR HER PROPERTY IN VAROSHA, A SPRAWLING GHOST TOWN IN EASTERN CYPRUS CORDONED OFF BY THE TURKISH MILITARY SINCE 1974. --MORE 23 44 LOCAL TIME 20 44 GMT
