THIRD SECTION

FINAL DECISION

Application no. 42794/98 by Ali Naci KARA and Others against Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights (Third Section), sitting on 23 October 2003 as a Chamber composed of:

Mr G. Ress , President , Mr I. Cabral Barreto , Mr L. Caflisch , Mr R. Türmen , Mr B. Zupančič , Mrs H.S. Greve , Mr K. Traja, judges , and Mr V. Berger , Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above application lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 3 August 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 15 July 2003 respectively,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

THE FACTS

The applicants, whose names are listed in the appendix, are Turkish nationals. By a letter dated 27 August 2001 the applicants’ representatives informed the Court that the applicant Ali Naci Kara had died on 9 September 2000 and that his heirs (see appendix) wished to pursue his application. By the same letter, they have also informed the Court that the applicant Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak had died on 17 February 2001 and that her heirs (see appendix) wish to pursue her application. They are represented before the Court by Mr A. Akıllıoğlu 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 İçel 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 the beginning of 1998 the due amounts were paid to the applicants respectively.

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. EÅŸe KARA

Emine KARA

Döne KARA (Genç)

Emrah KARA

Gül Eşe KARA

Afife KARA (Midilli)

Ä°rfan KARA

14.09.1995

03.02.1997

484.550.000

18.02.1998

2. Mehmet Ali PAN

16.12.1992

27.01.1994

48.932.300

18.02.1998

3. Mahmut KOCA

25.08.1993

24.11.1994

76.738.785

18.02.1998

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

4. Aysel AKDENÄ°ZLÄ°

Emine AKDENÄ°ZLÄ°

Betül AKDENİZLİ

Aytül AKDENİZLİ (Ertong)

15.10.1992

24.11.1994

35.696.496

18.02.1998

5. Ahmet ÇELİK

Emine ERKILIÇ

Düriye UYAN

11.09.1993

02.02.1995

  15.371.000

18.02.1998

6. Ahmet ÇELİK

Emine ERKILIÇ

Düriye UYAN

03.03.1993

20.06.1994

  51.982.175

18.02.1998

7. Fatma GÃœVEN

SalihYÖRÜK

Emsal YÖRÜK

Ali YÖRÜK

Fatma YÖRÜK

Şife YÖRÜK (Koşar)

Mustafa YÖRÜK

Eşe YÖRÜK (Topal)

Şerife YÖRÜK (Koşar)

Muhteber YÖRÜK (Kıraç)

Ahmet YÖRÜK

Mehmet YÖRÜK

Emine KARA

Nazmiye TEZEL (Demir)

Ömer ŞİMŞEK

Mahmut ŞİMŞEK

Abdurrahman ŞİMŞEK

Cahile YEŞİLYAPRAK (Civelek)

Hilal YEŞİLYAPRAK

Atike YEŞİLYAPRAK (Yörük)

Mehmet YEŞİLYAPRAK

Mustafa YEŞİLYAPRAK

Mesut YEŞİLYAPRAK

Neslihan YEŞİLYAPRAK

Yücel YEŞİLYAPRAK

11.09.1993

04.12.1995

204.105.528

12.02.1998

COMPLAINTS

The applicants allege that the rate of interest applied in the calculation of the additional compensation for expropriation was too low. They also complain of the delays in obtaining their compensation. In this regard 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 declaration from the Government:

“I declare that the Government of Turkey offer to 12,590 (twelve thousand five hundred and ninety) euros to the heirs of Mr Ali Naci Kara (Eşe Kara, Emine Kara, Döne Kara (Genç), Emrah Kara, Gül Eşe Kara, Afife Kara (Midilli), İrfan Kara), Mr Mehmet Ali Pan, Mr Mahmut Koca, Ms Aysel Akdenizli, Ms Emine Akdenizli, Ms Betül Akdenizli, Ms Aytül Akdenizli (Ertong), Mr Ahmet Çelik, Ms Emine Erkılıç, Ms Düriye Uyan, Ms Fatma Güven, Mr Salih Yörük, Mr Emsal Yörük, Mr Ali Yörük, Ms Fatma Yörük, Ms Şife Yörük (Koşar), Mr Mustafa Yörük, Ms Eşe Yörük (Topal), Ms Şerife Yörük (Koşar), Mr Muhteber Yörük (Kıraç), Mr Ahmet Yörük, Mr Mehmet Yörük, Ms Emine Kara, Ms Nazmiye Tezel (Demir), Mr Ömer Şimşek, Mr Mahmut Şimşek, Mr Abdurrahman Şimşek and the heirs of Ms Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak (Cahile Yeşilyaprak (Civelek), Atike Yeşilyaprak (Yörük), Mehmet Yeşilyaprak, Mustafa Yeşilyaprak, Mesut Yeşilyaprak, Neslihan Yeşilyaprak, Yücel Yeşilyaprak) [1] with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42794/98. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows:

The heirs of Mr Ali Naci Kara (Eşe Kara, Emine Kara, Döne

Kara (Genç), Emrah Kara, Gül Eşe Kara, Afife Kara (Midilli),

Ä°rfan Kara 1,500 EUR

Mehmet Ali Pan 2,500 EUR

Mahmut Koca 2,000 EUR

Aysel Akdenizli, Emine Akdenizli, Betül Akdenizli,

Aytül Akdenizli (Ertong) 1,100 EUR

Ahmet Çelik, Emine Erkılıç, Düriye Uyan 2,490 EUR

Fatma Güven, Salih Yörük, Emsal Yörük, Ali Yörük, Fatma Yörük, Åžife Yörük (KoÅŸar), Mustafa Yörük, Ms EÅŸe Yörük (Topal), Åžerife Yörük (KoÅŸar), Muhteber Yörük (Kıraç), Ahmet Yörük, Mehmet Yörük, Emine Kara, Nazmiye Tezel (Demir), Ömer ÅžimÅŸek, Mahmut ÅžimÅŸek, Abdurrahman ÅžimÅŸek, Nazmiye YeÅŸilyaprak                                                                               3,000 EUR

This sum will be payable within three months from the date of the decision by the Court ... 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 payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.”

The Court received the following declaration from one of the representatives of the applicants:

“I note that the Government of Turkey are prepared to pay the sum pay 12,590 (twelve thousand five hundred and ninety) euros covering pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to the heirs of Mr Ali Naci Kara (Eşe Kara, Emine Kara, Döne Kara (Genç), Emrah Kara, Gül Eşe Kara, Afife Kara (Midilli), İrfan Kara), Mr Mehmet Ali Pan, Mr Mahmut Koca, Ms Aysel Akdenizli, Ms Emine Akdenizli, Ms Betül Akdenizli, Ms Aytül Akdenizli (Ertong), Mr Ahmet Çelik, Ms Emine Erkılıç, Ms Düriye Uyan, Ms Fatma Güven, Mr Salih Yörük, Mr Emsal Yörük, Mr Ali Yörük, Ms Fatma Yörük, Ms Şife Yörük (Koşar), Mr Mustafa Yörük, Ms Eşe Yörük (Topal), Ms Şerife Yörük (Koşar), Mr Muhteber Yörük (Kıraç), Mr Ahmet Yörük, Mr Mehmet Yörük, Ms Emine Kara, Ms Nazmiye Tezel (Demir), Mr Ömer Şimşek, Mr Mahmut Şimşek, Mr Abdurrahman Şimşek and the heirs of Ms Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak (Cahile Yeşilyaprak (Civelek), Atike Yeşilyaprak (Yörük), Mehmet Yeşilyaprak, Mustafa Yeşilyaprak, Mesut Yeşilyaprak, Neslihan Yeşilyaprak, Yücel Yeşilyaprak) with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 42794/98 pending before the Court. This sum will be divided up as follows:

The heirs of Mr Ali Naci Kara (EÅŸe Kara, Emine Kara, Döne Kara (Genç), Emrah Kara, Gül EÅŸe Kara, Afife Kara (Midilli), Ä°rfan Kara                           1,500 EUR

Mehmet Ali Pan 2,500 EUR

Mahmut Koca 2,000 EUR

Aysel Akdenizli, Emine Akdenizli, Betül Akdenizli, Aytül

Akdenizli (Ertong) 1,100 EUR

Ahmet Çelik, Emine Erkılıç, Düriye Uyan 2,490 EUR

Fatma Güven, Salih Yörük, Emsal Yörük, Ali Yörük, Fatma Yörük, Åžife Yörük (KoÅŸar), Mustafa Yörük, Ms EÅŸe Yörük (Topal), Åžerife Yörük (KoÅŸar), Muhteber Yörük (Kıraç), Ahmet Yörük, Mehmet Yörük, Emine Kara, Nazmiye Tezel (Demir), Ömer ÅžimÅŸek, Mahmut ÅžimÅŸek, Abdurrahman ÅžimÅŸek, Nazmiye YeÅŸilyaprak                                                                               3,000 EUR

I also note that this sum will be payable within three months from the date of the decision by the Court ... 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.

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.”

After informing the Government, the Court took into consideration the request made by the applicants’ representatives on 9 September 2002 to make corrections to some applicants’ names as well as adding the names of the heirs of deceased applicants 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 applications;

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

Vincent Berger Georg Ress Registrar President

List of Applicants

[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 Mr Ali Naci Kara has been added and the name of some of the applicants, namely Şife Yörük (Koşar), Eşe Yörük (Topal), Şerife Yörük (Koşar), Muhteber Yörük (Kıraç) and Atül Akdenizli (Ertong), have been corrected.