THIRD SECTION

FINAL DECISION

Application no. 43370/98 by Ali BAÅžTUÄž 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 21 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, Ali Baştuğ, Hatice Baştuğ, Sabriye Durmuş, Ayşe Birtekin, Songül Çelen, Ahmet Baştuğ, Sabri Baştuğ, Özkul Baştuğ, Hali Arık, Vasfi Şillet, İbrahim Buluz, Salih Keleş, Mehmet Bozdoğan, Ali Bodur, Mehmet Nuri Bahadırlı, Naci Üzüm, Mehmet İslamoğlu (Kırkbuçuk), Sabri Kocaman, Fatma Korkmaz, Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan), Ergün Korkmaz, Erdal Korkmaz, Mustafa Sıtkı Korkmaz, Nuriye Durna, Tayip Korkmaz, Mehmet Hilmi Korkmaz, Fethiye Kara, Mustafa Kara, Mehmet Kara, Adem Kara, Seher Topçu and Medine Canbolat, are Turkish nationals. 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. Ali BAÅžTUÄž

Hatice BAÅžTUÄž

Sabriye DURMUÅž

AyÅŸe BÄ°RTEKÄ°N

Songül ÇELEN

Ahmet BAÅžTUÄž

Sabri BAÅžTUÄž

Özkul BAŞTUĞ

13.09.1995

27.01.1997

  7.109.224.000

06.02.1998

2. Halil ARIK

Vasfi ŞİLLET

Ä°brahim BULUZ

Salih KELEÅž

Mehmet BOZDOÄžAN

Ali BODUR

Mehmet Nuri BAHADIRLI

Naci ÃœZÃœM

Mehmet İSLAMOĞLU (Kırkbuçuk)

Sabri KOCAMAN

21.09.1995

24.03.1997

18.408.958.000

27.01.1998

3. Fatma KORKMAZ Zeliha KORKMAZ (Pehlivan)

Ergün KORKMAZ

Erdal KORKMAZ

Mustafa Sıtkı KORKMAZ

Nuriye DURNA

Tayip KORKMAZ

Mehmet Hilmi KORKMAZ

17.12.1992

08.11.1993

      117.418.870

26.01.1998

4. Fethiye KARA

Mustafa KARA   Mehmet KARA

Adem KARA

Seher TOPÇU

18.03.1992

08.11.1993

      200.438.000

26.01.1998

5. Medine CANBOLAT

22.07.1992

24.02.1994

      9.562.549

26.02.1998

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 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 102,625 (one hundred and two thousand six hundred and twenty-five) euros to Mr Ali Baştuğ, Ms Hatice Baştuğ, Ms Sabriye Durmuş, Ms Ayşe Birtekin, Ms Songül Çelen, Mr Ahmet Baştuğ, Mr Sabri Baştuğ, Mr Özkul Baştuğ, Mr Hali Arık, Mr Vasfi Şillet, Mr İbrahim Buluz, Mr Salih Keleş, Mr Mehmet Bozdoğan, Mr Ali Bodur, Mr Mehmet Nuri Bahadırlı, Mr Naci Üzüm, Mr Mehmet İslamoğlu (Kırkbuçuk), Mr Sabri Kocaman, Ms Fatma Korkmaz, Ms Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan), Mr Ergün Korkmaz, Mr Erdal Korkmaz, Mr Mustafa Sıtkı Korkmaz, Ms Nuriye Durna, Mr Tayip Korkmaz, Mr Mehmet Hilmi Korkmaz, Ms Fethiye Kara, Mr Mustafa Kara, Mr Mehmet Kara, Mr Adem Kara, Ms Seher Topçu and Ms Medine Canbolat [1] with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 43370/98. This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows:

Mr Ali BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Ms Hatice BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Ms Sabriye DurmuÅŸ, Ms AyÅŸe Birtekin, Ms Songül Çelen, Mr Ahmet BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Mr Sabri BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Mr Özkul BaÅŸtuÄŸ                                                                                                                                   24,000 EUR

Mr Hali Arık, Mr Vasfi Åžillet, Mr Ä°brahim Buluz, Mr Salih KeleÅŸ, Mr Mehmet BozdoÄŸan, Mr Ali Bodur, Mr Mehmet Nuri Bahadırlı, Mr Naci Ãœzüm, Mr Mehmet Ä°slamoÄŸlu (Kırkbuçuk), Mr Sabri Kocaman,                                        55,000 EUR

Ms Fatma Korkmaz, Ms Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan), Mr Ergün Korkmaz, Mr Erdal Korkmaz, Mr Mustafa Sıtkı Korkmaz, Ms Nuriye Durna, Mr Tayip Korkmaz, Mr Mehmet Hilmi Korkmaz                                                                    7,600 EUR

Ms Fethiye Kara, Mr Mustafa Kara, Mr Mehmet Kara, Mr Adem Kara, Ms Seher Topçu                                                                                            15,500 EUR

Ms Medine Canbolat      525 EUR

Furthermore, 51,312.5 EUR (fifty-one thousand three hundred and twelve euros and fifty centimes) 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 51,312.5 EUR (fifty-one thousand three hundred and twelve euros and fifty centimes) 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 102,625 (one hundred and two thousand six hundred and twenty-five) euros covering pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mr Ali Baştuğ, Ms Hatice Baştuğ, Ms Sabriye Durmuş, Ms Ayşe Birtekin, Ms Songül Çelen, Mr Ahmet Baştuğ, Mr Sabri Baştuğ, Mr Özkul Baştuğ, Mr Hali Arık, Mr Vasfi Şillet, Mr İbrahim Buluz, Mr Salih Keleş, Mr Mehmet Bozdoğan, Mr Ali Bodur, Mr Mehmet Nuri Bahadırlı, Mr Naci Üzüm, Mr Mehmet İslamoğlu (Kırkbuçuk), Mr Sabri Kocaman, Ms Fatma Korkmaz, Ms Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan), Mr Ergün Korkmaz, Mr Erdal Korkmaz, Mr Mustafa Sıtkı Korkmaz, Ms Nuriye Durna, Mr Tayip Korkmaz, Mr Mehmet Hilmi Korkmaz, Ms Fethiye Kara, Mr Mustafa Kara, Mr Mehmet Kara, Mr Adem Kara, Ms Seher Topçu and Ms Medine Canbolat with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 43370/98 pending before the Court. This sum will be divided up as follows:

Mr Ali BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Ms Hatice BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Ms Sabriye DurmuÅŸ, Ms AyÅŸe Birtekin, Ms Songül Çelen, Mr Ahmet BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Mr Sabri BaÅŸtuÄŸ, Mr Özkul BaÅŸtuÄŸ                                                                                                                                   24,000 EUR

Mr Hali Arık, Mr Vasfi Åžillet, Mr Ä°brahim Buluz, Mr Salih KeleÅŸ, Mr Mehmet BozdoÄŸan, Mr Ali Bodur, Mr Mehmet Nuri Bahadırlı, Mr Naci Ãœzüm, Mr Mehmet Ä°slamoÄŸlu (Kırkbuçuk), Mr Sabri Kocaman,                                        55,000 EUR

Ms Fatma Korkmaz, Ms Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan), Mr Ergün Korkmaz, Mr Erdal Korkmaz, Mr Mustafa Sıtkı Korkmaz, Ms Nuriye Durna, Mr Tayip Korkmaz, Mr Mehmet Hilmi Korkmaz                                                                  7,600 EUR

Ms Fethiye Kara, Mr Mustafa Kara, Mr Mehmet Kara, Mr Adem Kara, Ms Seher Topçu                                                                                            15,500 EUR

Ms Medine Canbolat      525 EUR

I also note that 51,312.5 EUR (fifty-one thousand three hundred and twelve euros and fifty centimes) 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 51,312.5 EUR (fifty-one thousand three hundred and twelve euros and fifty centimes) 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 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 name of some of the applicants, namely Zeliha Korkmaz (Pehlivan) and Adem Kara, have been corrected.