CYPRIOT JUDGE - EUROPEAN COURT
The Cypriot judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Loukis
Loukaides, who is retiring at the end of January, recommends to the
local political leader****p to make the most of Court judgments,
relating to Cyprus, in the political arena.
Having served the Court for nine years, Loukaides carries with him a
lot of memorable moments, acknowledges the dissenting opinions of his
colleagues, which he says are always based on legal points, and
stresses the need to see Court decisions implemented, in particular
those concerning human rights violations by Turkey in Cyprus. He
believes that the rule of law applies in Cyprus where the judiciary, he
says, is independent and all governments respect human rights.
On the political front, Loukaides says that the solution in Cyprus must
be a unitary state where every Cypriot, irrespective of origin, will
enjoy the same rights: rule of law, democracy, human rights and
freedom.
In an interview with CNA, Loukaides, who is also President of the
International Association for the Protection of Human Rights in Cyprus,
stressed that a Cyprus settlement should aim at the restoration of the
human rights of all Cypriots and should not be based on a bizonal,
bicommunal federation, which he believes, does not include by
definition some of the fundamental human rights but establishes racial
discrimination and is not compatible with a European solution, which
provides for respect of human rights and international law.
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