THIRD SECTION

FINAL DECISION

Application no. 42894/98 by Mehmet YÖRÜK 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 17 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 15 July 2003 respectively,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

THE FACTS

The applicants, Mehmet Yörük , Nazmiye Tezel , Emsal Yörük , Ali Yörük , Salih Yörük , Fatma Güven , Emine Kara, Fatma Yörük , Şife Yörük ( Koşar ), Mustafa Yörük , Eşe Yörük ( Topal ), Şerife Yörük ( Koşar ), Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ), Ahmet Yörük , Şeref Şimşek , Bekir Şimşek , Ömer Şimşek , Mahmut Şimşek , Cemil Kadir Şimşek , Öner Şimşek , Rabia Şimşek , Abdurrahman Şimşek , Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak , Hicret Kılıç , Halil Şahin , Celil Kaya , Fazlı Çöl , Abdullah Çöl , Hacer Bora , Raziye Top, Bestami Sonkaya , Mevlüt Sonkaya , Habibe Sonkaya , Güler Uyanık , Hatice İzği , Sultan Yıldırım , Raziye Özel , Melek Sığmak , Firdevs Oğuz , Durdu Kesikbaş , Ahmet Ercan and Bilal Gök , are Turkish nationals. By a letter dated 27 August 2001 the applicants’ representatives informed the Court that the applicant Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak had died on 17 February 2001 and that her heirs ( Cahile Yeşilyaprak ( Civelek ), Atike Yeşilyaprak ( Yörük ), Mehmet Yeşilyaprak , Mustafa Yeşilyaprak , Mesut Yeşilyaprak , Neslihan Yeşilyaprak and Yücel Yeşilyaprak ) wish to pursue the application. By the same letter the applicants’ representatives informed the Court also that the applicant Halil Şahin had died on 11 September 1999 and that his heirs ( Kasım Şahin , Osman Şahin , İmran Şahin , Ferdane Şahin ( Göknur ), Müslüme Şahin ( Eker ), Fatma Şahin ( Akçay ), Resul Şahin ) wish to pursue the application. They were 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 . Mehmet YÖRÜK

Nazmiye TEZEL

Emsal YÖRÜK

Ali YÖRÜK

Salih YÖRÜK

Fatma GÃœVEN

Emine KARA

Fatma YÖRÜK

Şife YÖRÜK ( Koşar )

Mustafa YÖRÜK

Eşe YÖRÜK ( Topal )

Şerife YÖRÜK ( Koşar )

Muhteber YÖRÜK ( Kıraç )

Ahmet YÖRÜK

Şeref ŞİMŞEK

Bekir ŞİMŞEK

Ömer ŞİMŞEK

Mahmut ŞİMŞEK

Cemil Kadir ŞİMŞEK

Öner ŞİMŞEK

Rabia ŞİMŞEK

Abdurrahman ŞİMŞEK

Cahile YEŞİLYAPRAK ( Civelek )

Hilal YEŞİLYAPRAK

Atike YEŞİLYAPRAK ( Yörük )

Mehmet YEŞİLYAPRAK

Mustafa YEŞİLYAPRAK

Mesut YEŞİLYAPRAK

Neslihan YEŞİLYAPRAK

Yücel YEŞİLYAPRAK

Hicret KILIÇ

16.03.1993

11.12.1995

900.000.000

21.01.1998

2 . Kasım ŞAHİN

Osman ÅžAHÄ°N

Ä°mran ÅžAHIN

Ferdane ŞAHİN ( Göknur )

Müslüme ŞAHİN ( Eker )

Fatma ŞAHİN ( Akçay )

Resul ÅžAHÄ°N

22.10.1992

22.11.1993

340.000.000

21.01.1998

3 . Celil KAYA

Fazlı ÇÖL

Abdullah ÇÖL

Hacer BORA

Raziye TOP

13.05.1992

31.01.1994

133.697.326

21.01.1998

4 . Bestami SONKAYA

Mevlüt SONKAYA

Habibe SONKAYA

Güler UYANIK

Hatice İZĞİ

Sultan YILDIRIM

Raziye ÖZEL

01.02.1994

25.09.1995

188.122.212

20.01.1998

5 . Melek SIÄžMAK

Firdevs OÄžUZ

Durdu KESÄ°KBAÅž

Ahmet ERCAN

Bilal GÖK

16.09.1992

08.11.1993

93.764.916

21.01.1998

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 invoke Article 1 of Protocol No 1 and Article 6 of the Convention.

THE LAW

Following informal contacts between the applicant’s 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 pay 52,500 (fifty-two thousand five hundred) euros to Mr Mehmet Yörük , Ms Nazmiye Tezel , Ms Emsal Yörük , Mr Ali Yörük , Mr Salih Yörük , Ms Fatma Güven , Ms Emine Kara, Ms Fatma Yörük , Ms Şife Yörük ( Koşar ), Mr Mustafa Yörük , Ms Eşe Yörük ( Topal ), Ms Şerife Yörük ( Koşar ), Ms Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ), Mr Ahmet Yörük , Mr Şeref Şimşek , Mr Bekir Şimşek , Mr Ömer Şimşek , Mr Mahmut Şimşek , Mr Cemil Kadir Şimşek , Mr Öner Şimşek , Ms Rabia Şimşek , Mr Abdurrahman Şimşek , the heirs of Ms Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak ( Cahile Yeşil yaprak ( Civelek ), Hilal Yeşilyaprak , Atike Yeşilyaprak ( Yörük ), Mehmet Yeşilyaprak , Mustafa Yeşilyaprak , Mesut Yeşilyaprak , Neslihan Yeşilyaprak , Yücel Yeşilyaprak , Mr Hicret Kılıç ), the heirs of Halil Şahin (Mr Kasım Şahin , Mr Osman Şahin , Ms İmran Şahin , Ms Ferdane Şahin ( Göknur ), Ms Müslüme Şahin ( Eker ), Ms Fatma Şahin ( Akçay ) and Mr Resul Şahin ), Mr Celil Kaya , Mr Fazlı Çöl , Mr Abdullah Çöl , Ms Hacer Bora , Ms Raziye Top, Mr Bestami Sonkaya , Mr Mevlüt Sonkaya , Ms Habibe Sonkaya , Ms Güler Uyanık , Ms Hatice İzği , Ms Sultan Yıldırım , Ms Raziye Özel , Ms Melek Sığmak , Ms Firdevs Oğuz , Ms Durdu Kesikbaş , Mr Ahmet Ercan and Mr Bilal Gök [1] with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42894/98. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows:

Mr Mehmet Yörük , Ms Nazmiye Tezel , Ms Emsal Yörük , Mr Ali Yörük , Mr Salih Yörük , Ms Fatma Güven , Ms Emine Kara, Ms Fatma Yörük , Ms Åžife Yörük ( KoÅŸar ), Mr Mustafa Yörük , Ms EÅŸe Yörük ( Topal ), Ms Åžerife Yörük ( KoÅŸar ), Ms Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ), Mr Ahmet Yörük , Mr Åžeref ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Bekir ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Ömer ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Mahmut ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Cemil Kadir ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Öner ÅžimÅŸek , Ms Rabia ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Abdurrahman ÅžimÅŸek , the heirs of Ms Nazmiye YeÅŸilyaprak ( Cahile YeÅŸil yaprak ( Civelek ), Hilal YeÅŸilyaprak , Atike YeÅŸilyaprak ( Yörük ), Mehmet YeÅŸilyaprak , Mustafa YeÅŸilyaprak , Mesut YeÅŸilyaprak , Neslihan YeÅŸilyaprak , Yücel YeÅŸilyaprak , Mr Hicret Kılıç                                                     13,500 EUR

The heirs of Halil Åžahin (Mr Kasım Åžahin , Mr Osman Åžahin , Ms Ä°mran Åžahin , Ms Ferdane Åžahin ( Göknur ), Ms Müslüme Åžahin ( Eker ), Ms Fatma Åžahin ( Akçay ) and Mr Resul Åžahin )                                                                               22,500 EUR

Mr Celil Kaya , Mr Fazlı Çöl , Mr Abdullah Çöl , Ms Hacer Bora , Ms Raziye Top                                                                                                                      7,200 EUR

Mr Bestami Sonkaya , Mr Mevlüt Sonkaya , Ms Habibe Sonkaya , Ms Güler Uyanık , Ms Hatice Ä°zÄŸi , Ms Sultan Yıldırım , Ms Raziye Özel                           2,700 EUR

Ms Melek Sığmak , Ms Firdevs OÄŸuz , Ms Durdu KesikbaÅŸ , Mr Ahmet Ercan , Mr Bilal Gök                                                                                 6,600 EUR             

Furthermore, 26,250 (twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty) 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 ... 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 26,250 (twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty) euros within six months following the decision by the Court ... 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.”

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 of 52,500 (fifty-two thousand five hundred) euros covering pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mr Mehmet Yörük , Ms Nazmiye Tezel , Ms Emsal Yörük , Mr Ali Yörük , Mr Salih Yörük , Ms Fatma Güven , Ms Emine Kara, Ms Fatma Yörük , Ms Şife Yörük ( Koşar ), Mr Mustafa Yörük , Ms Eşe Yörük ( Topal ), Ms Şerife Yörük ( Koşar ), Ms Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ), Mr Ahmet Yörük , Mr Şeref Şimşek , Mr Bekir Şimşek , Mr Ömer Şimşek , Mr Mahmut Şimşek , Mr Cemil Kadir Şimşek , Mr Öner Şimşek , Ms Rabia Şimşek , Mr Abdurrahman Şimşek , the heirs of Ms Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak ( Cahile Yeşilyaprak ( Civelek ), Hilal Yeşilyaprak , Atike Yeşilyaprak ( Yörük ), Mehmet Yeşilyaprak , Mustafa Yeşilyaprak , Mesut Yeşilyaprak , Neslihan Yeşilyaprak , Yücel Yeşilyaprak , Mr Hicret Kılıç , the heirs of Halil Şahin (Mr Kasım Şahin , Mr Osman Şahin , Ms İmran Şahin , Ms Ferdane Şahin ( Göknur ), Ms Müslüme Şahin ( Eker ), Ms Fatma Şahin ( Akçay ) and Mr Resul Şahin ), Mr Celil Kaya , Mr Fazlı Çöl , Mr Abdullah Çöl , Ms Hacer Bora , Ms Raziye Top, Mr Bestami Sonkaya , Mr Mevlüt Sonkaya , Ms Habibe Sonkaya , Ms Güler Uyanık , Ms Hatice İzği , Ms Sultan Yıldırım , Ms Raziye Özel , Ms Melek Sığmak , Ms Firdevs Oğuz , Ms Durdu Kesikbaş , Mr Ahmet Ercan and Mr Bilal Gök with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 42894/98 pending before the Court. This sum will be divided up as follows:

Mr Mehmet Yörük , Ms Nazmiye Tezel , Ms Emsal Yörük , Mr Ali Yörük , Ms Fatma Güven , Ms Emine Kara, Ms Fatma Yörük , Ms Åžife Yörük ( KoÅŸar ), Mr Mustafa Yörük , Ms EÅŸe Yörük ( Topal ), Ms Åžerife Yörük ( KoÅŸar ), Ms Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ),, Mr Ahmet Yörük , Mr Åžeref ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Bekir ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Ömer ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Mahmut ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Cemil Kadir ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Öner ÅžimÅŸek , Ms Rabia ÅžimÅŸek , Mr Abdurrahman ÅžimÅŸek , the heirs of Ms Nazmiye YeÅŸilyaprak ( Cahile YeÅŸilyaprak ( Civelek ), Hilal YeÅŸilyaprak , Atike YeÅŸilyaprak ( Yörük ), Mehmet YeÅŸilyaprak , Mustafa YeÅŸilyaprak , Mesut YeÅŸilyaprak , Neslihan YeÅŸilyaprak , Yücel YeÅŸilyaprak , Mr Hicret Kılıç                                                     13,500 EUR

The heirs of Halil Åžahin (Mr Kasım Åžahin , Mr Osman Åžahin , Ms Ä°mran Åžahin , Ms Ferdane Åžahin ( Göknur ), Ms Müslüme Åžahin ( Eker ), Ms Fatma Åžahin ( Akçay ) and Mr Resul Åžahin )                                                                               22,500 EUR

Mr Celil Kaya , Mr Fazlı Çöl , Mr Abdullah Çöl , Ms Hacer Bora , Ms Raziye Top                                                                                                                      7,200 EUR

Mr Bestami Sonkaya , Mr Mevlüt Sonkaya , Ms Habibe Sonkaya , Ms Güler Uyanık , Ms Hatice Ä°zÄŸi , Ms Sultan Yıldırım , Ms Raziye Özel                             2,700 EUR

Ms Melek Sığmak , Ms Firdevs OÄŸuz , Ms Durdu KesikbaÅŸ , Mr Ahmet Ercan , Mr Bilal Gök                                                                                 6,600 EUR

I also note that 26,250 (twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty) 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 ... and the remaining 26,250 (twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty) 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.”

After informing the Government, the Court took into consideration the applicant’s representative’s request of 9 September 2002 to make corrections to some of the applicants’ names as well as adding the names of the heirs of the deceased applicants in 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

[1] Taking into consideration the letter sent by the applicant’s representative on 9 September 2002, the names of the heirs of the deceased applicants Ms Nazmiye Yeşilyaprak and Halil Şahin have been added and the name of some of the applicants, namely Salih Yörük , Şife Yörük ( Koşar ), Eşe Yörük ( Topal ), Şerife Yörük ( Koşar ), Muhteber Yörük ( Kıraç ) Mahmut Şimşek and Hatice İzği , have been corrected.