BIRGÜL and OTHERS v. TURKEY

SECȚIUNEA TERZĂ DECIZIE FINALă No. 42787/98 de către Zeki BİRGÜL și alții împotriva Turciei Curții Europene a Drepturilor Omului (A treia secțiune), care așeză la 22 ianuarie 2004 ca secțiune compusă din: Ress Cabral Barreto Caflesch Kūris Türmen Zupančič dna Tsatsa-Nikolovska, judecători și grefierul secțiunii Berger având în vedere cererea depusă la Comisia Europeană a Drepturilor Omului la 8 iulie 1998, având în vedere art. 5 § 2 din Protocolul nr. 11 la Convenție, prin care competența de a examina cererea a fost transferată Curții, având în vedere decizia parțială din 23 noiembrie 1999, Având în vedere declarațiile oficiale care acceptă o soluționare prietenoasă a cazului prezentat de reclamanții la 9 septembrie 2002 și, respectiv, 11 noiembrie 2003, după ce au deliberat, decide după cum urmează: FACTE Reclamanții, dl Rașit Birgül, dl Zeki Birgül, dl Arif Birgül, dl Mehmet Birgül și dl Halil Birgül, sunt resortisanți turci, reprezentați în fața Curții de către dl A. Akıllıoğlu, dl M. Nerse și dl Aktay, avocați care practică în Ankara.

Faptele cazului, astfel cum au fost prezentate de părți, pot fi rezumate după cum urmează. Hotărârea Generală a Drumurilor Naționale și Autostrăzilor a expropriat parcele de teren aparținând reclamanților din Tarsus pentru a construi Tarsus-İçel-Çukurova-İskenderun Autostrada. Un comitet de experți a evaluat valoarea parcelelor de teren aparținând reclamanților și aceste sume au fost plătite la momentul în care a avut loc expropiarea. În urma cererilor de compensare sporită ale reclamanților, instanța națională le-a acordat o compensare suplimentară plus un dobânzi la rata legală de 30 % pe an. Reclamanții au apelat și Curtea de Casație au susținut decizia instanței de primă instanță. În ianuarie 1998 sumele corespunzătoare au fost plătite reclamanților.

Detalii sunt indicate în tabelul de mai jos: NUMELE APLICAȚIILOR DATEA TRANSFERIRII TITLULUI DECIZIEI FINALE DECIZIEI FINALE DE CURTEA DE CASSARE CU PRIVIND COMPENSIUNEA ADIȚIONALĂ (neinclusiv interesele și costurile juridice) (în lira turcisă) DATEA PAIEMENTUL

THIRD SECTION

FINAL DECISION

Application no. 42787/98 by Zeki BİRGÜL 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 8 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 Rașit Birgül, Mr Zeki Birgül, Mr Arif Birgül, Mr Mehmet Birgül and Mr Halil Birgül, are Turkish nationals.

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 January 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. Rașit BİRGÜL 26.08.1991 19.06.1995 4,090,361,854 09.01.1998 2. Arif BİRGÜL 26.08.1991 19.06.1995 4,090,361,854 12.01.1998 3. Mehmet BİRGÜL 26.08.1991 19.06.1995 4,090,361,854 12.01.1998 4. Halil BİRGÜL 26.08.1991 19.06.1995 4,090,361,854 09.01.1998 5. Zeki BİRGÜL 26.08.1991 19.06.1995 4,090,361,854 12.01.1998 COMPLAINTS The applicants allege that the rate of interest applied in the calculation of the additional compensation for expropriation was too low. They 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 287,500 (two hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred) euros to Mr Zeki Birgül, Mr Arif Birgül, Mr Mehmet Birgül, Mr Halil Birgül and Mr Rașit Birgül with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42787/98.

This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows: Mr Zeki Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Arif Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Mehmet Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Halil Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Rașit Birgül 57,500 EUR 143,750 (one hundred and forty-three thousand seven 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 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 143,750 (one hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty) 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 287,500 (two hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred) euros to Mr Zeki Birgül, Mr Arif Birgül, Mr Mehmet Birgül, Mr Halil Birgül and Mr Rașit Birgül with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the application registered under no. 42787/98.

This sum shall cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and will be divided up as follows: Mr Zeki Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Arif Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Mehmet Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Halil Birgül 57,500 EUR Mr Rașit Birgül 57,500 EUR 143,750 (one hundred and forty-three thousand seven 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 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 143,750 (one hundred and forty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty) 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 575,000 (five hundred and seventy-five thousand) euros covering pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs to Mr Zeki Birgül, Mr Arif Birgül, Mr Mehmet Birgül, Mr Halil Birgül and Mr Rașit Birgül with a view to securing a friendly settlement of application no. 42787/98 pending before the Court.

This sum will be divided up as follows: Mr Zeki Birgül 115,000 EUR Mr Arif Birgül 115,000 EUR Mr Mehmet Birgül 115,000 EUR Mr Halil Birgül 115,000 EUR Mr Rașit Birgül 115,000 EUR I also note that 287,500 (two hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred) euros of this sum 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 287,500 (two hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred) euros within six months following this decision. 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. Mersin, 9 September 2002” 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