PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 67586/01) against the Republic of Turkey lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by Mr Salim Deligöz (“the applicant”) on 15 November 2000.

The applicant was represented by Mr Mahmut Akdoğan, a lawyer practising in Mersin. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) did not designate an Agent for the purposes of the proceedings before the Court.

On 15 September 2004 the Court decided to communicate the application to the Government. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1944 and lives in Mersin.

On 2 November 1993 the General Directorate of National Roads and Highways expropriated a plot of land belonging to the applicant in Mersin in order to build a motorway. A committee of experts assessed the value of the plot of land and the relevant amount was paid to the applicant when the expropriation took place.

Following the applicant’s request for increased compensation, on 25 April 1997 the Mersin Civil Court of First-instance awarded him additional compensation of 305,201,400 Turkish liras (TRL), plus interest at the statutory rate, applicable at the date of the court’s decision, running from 2 November 1993, the date of transfer of the title-deeds.

On 23 March 1998 the Court of Cassation upheld the judgment of the Mersin Civil Court of First-instance.

On 17 May 2000 the General Directorate of National Roads and Highways paid the applicant TRL 1,167,070,000, interest included.