She referred to this effort as a “human commitment and sacred priority,” and, in this context, she continued, “we have already undertaken specific actions and are achieving significant and decisive results through the programme of the Republic of Cyprus.” Aristotelous said. She added “we continue to press strongly and decisively in every direction, demanding that obstacles are lifted and the Turkish military files open, and allowing searches, excavations, and exhumations in all areas where there are testimonies and evidence”.
Noting the missing persons issue is above all humanitarian, she said “it is every family’s sacred right to know”.
At the same time, Aristotelous continued, “we support and strengthen the families carrying this heavy burden. The state stands by them, not only institutionally but practically, with actions. Through social support policies, psychological empowerment, and their institutional participation in procedures”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.
A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.
According to statistical data published on the CMP website by February 28, 2025 out of 2002 missing persons 1,704 were exhumed and 1,052 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 756 were identified and 754 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 296 were identified and 196 are still missing.
