Seven excavations for missing persons are currently taking place across Cyprus, AKEL MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees Nikos Kettiros announced on Tuesday after the committee session.
Six sites are in the occupied north:
- Lefkoniko
- Kyrenia Botanical Gardens
- Templos
- Mora
- Pileri
- Karavas
One site is in the government-controlled area: wells in Strovolos. An eighth excavation will soon begin in Agios Ermolaos in the north.
Main obstacle
Kettiros said the biggest problem facing the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) is severe restrictions in the occupied areas. The Turkish occupation army grants only 10 excavation permits per year, each limited to a 25-metre radius.
“These issues must be placed front and centre as confidence-building measures, increase the number of permits and expand the search radius for both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons,” he stressed.
International spotlight during EU Presidency
The committee will send a letter to the Cyprus EU Presidency and the House President proposing a special event, either a conference or committee session. Relatives of the missing will be present, to brief foreign guests visiting Cyprus.
“It is unacceptable to any human being that our dead remain buried under rubbish. No one can justify this situation that the occupation army has perpetuated for 51 years,” Kettiros said.
DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias called for a complete change of approach.
“We must confront Turkey head-on. Turkey has a criminal record of genocide since 1898,” he said.
He urged Cyprus to use its upcoming EU Council Presidency to “denounce Turkey at every step” and in every forum” and place the missing persons issue first on any confidence-building agenda.
Also read: Earthquakes expose possible missing persons in Famagusta
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