CEDH · CASELAW;REPORTS;ENG — 7 juillet 1992

.sDD6737AE { font-size:11pt } .s211D6B00 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:normal; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:8.5pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial }      EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS   FIRST CHAMBER   Application No. 14503/89   Peter MARGULIES   against   AUSTRIA   REPORT OF THE COMMISSION   (adopted on 7 July 1992)   TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                  Page   INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1   PART I:   STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3   PART II: SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4                                INTRODUCTION   1.     This Report relates to the application introduced under Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Peter Margulies against Austria on 8 November 1988.   It was registered on 5 January 1989 under file No. 14503/89.         The applicant was represented by Mr. T. Prader, a lawyer practising in Vienna.         The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent, Ambassador H. Türk, Head of the International Law Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   2.     The application relates to the length of criminal proceedings against the applicant.   On 9 December 1991 the Commission declared the application admissible.   3.     The Commission then proceeded to carry out its task under Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:         "In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to       it:         a.    it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake            together with the representatives of the parties an            examination of the petition and, if need be, an            investigation, for the effective conduct of which the            States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities,            after an exchange of views with the Commission;         b.    it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of            the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly            settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human            Rights as defined in this Convention."   4.     The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly settlement of the case and on 7 July 1992 it adopted this Report which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the Convention, is confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached. ------------- (1)    This decision is public and may be obtained from the Commission's       Secretariat on request.         The following members were present when the Report was adopted:              MM.    J. A. FROWEIN, President of the First Chamber                  F. ERMACORA                  E. BUSUTTIL                  A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK            Sir    Basil HALL            Mr.    C. L. ROZAKIS            Mrs.   J. LIDDY                  M.P. PELLONPÄÄ                  B. MARXER                                   PART I                           STATEMENT OF THE FACTS   5.     On 14 March 1985 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of having damaged and daubed buildings in Vienna by spraying mostly political slogans, parts of words and signs onto them, and of offences under Articles 125 and 126 (1) (7) of the Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch) and Section 36 (1) (1) Weapons Act (Waffengesetz). The applicant was released from detention on 3 April 1985 and convicted on 28 December 1987 in respect of some of the charges.   An appeal by the prosecution was decided by the Vienna Court of Appeal (Oberlandes- gericht) on 18 March 1988.   The decision was served on the applicant's lawyer on 3 June 1988.         Before the Commission the applicant alleged violation of Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention by virtue of the length of the proceedings.                                 PART II                              SOLUTION REACHED   6.     Following the decision on the admissibility of the application, the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement in accordance with Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties to submit any proposals they wished to make.   7.     In accordance with the usual practice, the Secretary, acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.   8.     By letters of 2 July 1992 the applicant's representative and the Agent of the Government submitted the following identical declarations on the agreement reached between the applicant and the Government in July 1992:   [Translation]         "Declaration by the parties with a view to a friendly settlement         In connection with Application No. 14503/89 by Mr. Margulies, the parties, with reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European Convention on Human Rights and to the assistance of the European Commission of Human Rights, declare as follows:         1.   The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the       applicant a sum amounting to altogether AS 70,000 as compensation       in respect of any possible claims relating to the present       application.   This sum includes AS 50,000 in respect of costs and       expenses incurred before the Commission.         This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative,       Mr. T. Prader in Vienna.         2.   The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic       of Austria relating to the present application."         [German] "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung         In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 14503/84 des Herrn Margulies verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 b der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der Europäischen Kommission für Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:         1.   Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als       Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit       der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von       AS 70 000. Dieser Betrag umfasst AS 50 000 hinsichtlich der       Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der       Kommission entstanden sind.         Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des       Beschwerdeführers Herrn Dr. Prader in Wien überwiesen.         2.   Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung       allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich       im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden       Sachverhalt."   9.     At its session on 7 July 1992, the Commission noted that the parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement. It further considered, having regard to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention, that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.   10.    For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report.   Secretary to the First Chamber   President of the First Chamber         (M. de SALVIA)                   (J. A. FROWEIN)