THIRD SECTION

FINAL DECISION

Application no. 42825/98 by Ali KAPLAN and Others against Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights (Third Section), sitting on 22 January 2004 as a Chamber composed of:

Mr G. Ress , President , Mr I. Cabral Barreto , Mr L. Caflisch , Mr P. Kūris , Mr R. Türmen , Mr B. Zupančič , Mrs M. Tsatsa-Nikolovska , judges , and Mr V. Berger , Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above application lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 24 July 1998,

Having regard to Article 5 § 2 of Protocol No. 11 to the Convention, by which the competence to examine the application was transferred to the Court,

Having regard to the partial decision of 23 November 1999,

Having regard to the formal declarations accepting a friendly settlement of the case submitted by the applicants and the Government on 9 September 2002 and 11 November 2003 respectively,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

THE FACTS

The applicants, Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr D. Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife Kurtoğlu , Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Mümin Kaplan, Ms Sultan Kaplan, Mr Hasan Çınar , Mr Ali Yılmaz , Ms Düldane Kara, Mr Yusuf Umay , Mr İsa Umay , Mr İbrahim Umay , Mr Musa Umay , Mr Ali Nadir Umay , Mr İsmail Umay , Mr Temim Umay and Mr Asaf Umay , are Turkish nationals. By a letter dated 27 August 2001 the applicants’ representatives informed the Court that the applicant Sultan Kaplan had died on an unspecified date and that her heirs, Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mümin Kaplan, Hanife Kaplan ( Kurtoğlu ), Mr Ali Kaplan and Mr Duran Mehmet Kaplan, wished to pursue her application. They are represented before the Court by Mr A. Akıllıoğlu , Mr M. Nerse and Mr A. Aktay , lawyers practising in Ankara.

The facts of the case, as submitted by the parties, may be summarised as follows.

The General Directorate of National Roads and Highways expropriated plots of land belonging to the applicants in Tarsus in order to build the Tarsus- İçel-Çukurova-İskenderun Motorway. A committee of experts assessed the value of the plots of land belonging to the applicants and these amounts were paid to them when the expropriation took place.

Following the applicants’ requests for increased compensation, the national courts awarded them additional compensation plus an interest at the statutory rate of 30 % per annum. The applicants appealed and the Court of Cassation upheld the decision of the first instance court. In February 1998 the due amounts were paid to the applicants.

Details are indicated in the table below:

NAMES OF THE APPLICANTS

DATE OF TRANSFER OF TITLE DEED TO THE LAND

DATE OF FINAL DECISION BY COURT OF CASSATION AS REGARDS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION

AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION

(interests and legal costs are not included)

(in turkish liras)

DATE OF PAYMENT

1. Ali KAPLAN

D. Mehmet KAPLAN

Hanife KURTOÄžLU

Mehmet KAPLAN

Mümin KAPLAN

Heirs of Sultan KAPLAN

( Mehmet KAPLAN

Mümin KAPLAN

Hanife KAPLAN (KURTOÄžLU)

Ali KAPLAN

Duran Mehmet KAPLAN)

15.10.1992

27.11.1995

7,912,500,000

06.02.1998

2. Hasan ÇINAR

27.05.1992

15.11.1993

          83,490,000

11.02.1998

3. Yusuf UMAY

   Ä°sa UMAY

   Ä°brahim UMAY

   Musa UMAY

    Ali Nadir UMAY

   Ä°smail UMAY

   Temim UMAY

   Asaf UMAY

31.07.1989

01.03.1995

  4,767,929,237

28.01.1998

4. Ali YILMAZ

27.01.1993

27.05.1996

        541,999,150

26.01.1998

5. Düldane KARA

18.03.1992

24.06.1993

          79,119,000

11.02.1998

COMPLAINTS

The applicants allege that the rate of interest applied in the calculation of the additional compensation for expropriation was too low. They further complain of the delays in obtaining their compensation. They rely on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 and Article 6 of the Convention.

THE LAW

Following informal contacts between the applicants’ and the Government’s representatives, the Section Registrar was asked to assist the parties in reaching a solution to the matter. As a result, the Registrar addressed draft declarations to the parties.

The Court received the following declarations from the Government:

“Declaration (1)

I declare that the Government of Turkey offer to pay 160,550 (one hundred and sixty thousand five hundred and fifty) euros to Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr D. Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife Kurtoğlu , Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Mümin Kaplan, Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife Kaplan ( Kurtoğlu ), Mr Mümin Kaplan, Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr Duran Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Hasan Çınar , Mr Ali Yılmaz and Ms Düldane Kara with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42825/98. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows:

Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr D. Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife KurtoÄŸlu ,

Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Mümin Kaplan, heirs of

Ms Sultan Kaplan (Mr Mehmet Kaplan,

Ms Hanife Kaplan ( Kurtoğlu ), Mr Mümin Kaplan,

Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr Duran Mehmet Kaplan) 140,000 EUR                          

Mr Hasan Çınar 6,300 EUR

Mr Ali Yılmaz 6,750 EUR

Ms Düldane Kara 7,500 EUR

Furthermore, 80,275 (eighty thousand two hundred and seventy-five) euros of this sum, which corresponds to half of the whole sum agreed upon, will be payable within three months from the date of the decision by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 a) and c) of the European Convention on Human Rights. This sum shall be paid in euros to a bank account named by the applicants, free of any taxes and charges that may be applicable.

The Government further agree to pay the remaining 80,275 (eighty thousand two hundred and seventy-five) euros within six months following the decision by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 a) and c) of the European Convention on Human Rights. This sum shall also be paid in euros to a bank account named by the applicants, free of any taxes and charges that may be applicable.

Ankara, 11 November 2003”

“Declaration (2)

I declare that the Government of Turkey offer to pay 210,000 (two hundred and ten thousand) euros to Mr Yusuf Umay , Mr Ä°sa Umay , Mr Ä°brahim Umay , Mr Musa Umay , Mr Ali Nadir Umay , Mr Ä°smail Umay , Mr Temim Umay and Mr Asaf Umay with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42825/98. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs.

Furthermore, 105,000 (one hundred and five thousand) euros of this sum, which corresponds to half of the whole sum agreed upon, will be payable within three months from the date of the decision by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 a) and c) of the European Convention on Human Rights. This sum shall be paid in euros to a bank account named by the applicants, free of any taxes and charges that may be applicable.

The Government further agree to pay the remaining 105,000 (one hundred and five thousand) euros within six months following the decision by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 a) and c) of the European Convention on Human Rights. This sum shall also be paid in euros to a bank account named by the applicants, free of any taxes and charges that may be applicable. This payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.

Ankara, 11 November 2003”

The Court received the following declaration signed by one of the representatives of the applicants:

“I note that the Government of Turkey are prepared to pay the sum of 370,550 (three hundred and seventy thousand five hundred and fifty) euros covering pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr D. Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife Kurtoğlu , Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Mümin Kaplan, heirs of Ms Sultan Kaplan (Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife Kaplan ( Kurtoğlu ), Mr Mümin Kaplan, Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr Duran Mehmet Kaplan) [1] , Mr Hasan Çınar , Mr Ali Yılmaz , Ms Düldane Kara, Mr Yusuf Umay , Mr İsa Umay , Mr İbrahim Umay , Mr Musa Umay , Mr Ali Nadir Umay , Mr İsmail Umay , Mr Temim Umay and Mr Asaf Umay with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 42825/98 pending before the Court. This sum will be divided up as follows:

Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr D. Mehmet Kaplan, Ms Hanife KurtoÄŸlu ,

Mr Mehmet Kaplan, Mr Mümin Kaplan,

heirs of Ms Sultan Kaplan (Mr Mehmet Kaplan,

Ms Hanife Kaplan ( Kurtoğlu ), Mr Mümin Kaplan,

Mr Ali Kaplan, Mr Duran Mehmet Kaplan) 140,000 EUR                                       

Mr Hasan Çınar 6,300 EUR

Mr Ali Yılmaz 6,750 EUR

Ms Düldane Kara 7,500 EUR

Mr Yusuf Umay , Mr Ä°sa Umay , Mr Ä°brahim Umay ,

Mr Musa Umay , Mr Ali Nadir Umay , Mr Ä°smail Umay ,

Mr Temim Umay , Mr Asaf Umay 210,000 EUR

I also note that 185,275 (one hundred and eighty-five thousand two hundred and seventy-five) euros of this sum, which corresponds to half of the whole sum agreed upon, will be payable within three months from the date of the decision by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 a) and c) of the European Convention on Human Rights and the remaining 185,275 (one hundred and eighty-five thousand two hundred and seventy-five) euros will be payable within six months from the date of this decision.

I accept the proposal and waive any further claims against Turkey in respect of the facts of this application. I declare that this constitutes a final settlement of the case.

This declaration is made in the context of a friendly settlement which the Government and the applicants have reached.

Mersin , 9 September 2002”

After informing the Government, the Court took into consideration the applicant’s representative’s request of 9 September 2002 to add the names of the deceased applicant’s heirs to the above declarations.

The Court takes note of the agreement reached between the parties. It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention or its Protocols and considers that there is no reason which would justify the continuation of the examination of the application (Article 37 § 1 in fine of the Convention and Rule 62 § 3 of the Rules of the Court).

For these reasons, the Court unanimously

Decides to disjoin the application from other applications;

Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases.

Vincent Berger Georg Ress Registrar President

[1] Taking into consideration the letter sent by the applicant’s representative on 9 September 2002, the names of the heirs of the deceased applicant, Ms Sultan Kaplan, have been added.