The issue of missing persons in Cyprus remains unsolved and Turkey bears the responsibility and puts obstacles in the way, Commissioner Photis Photiou has said.
Speaking on Sunday, during a memorial service for fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island and for a missing person, Photiou called on Turkey to take decision that will finally yield results as regards the issue of missing persons.
Turkey, he said, must change its stance and should start behaving accordingly and added that the Government, despite the difficulties and hurdles, will carry on its struggle so that the fate of all missing persons is clarified.
Photiou said that the Greek Cypriot side will keep on its efforts so that the Cyprus problem is solved, pointing out that the solution must be just and viable and must safeguard the rights of all, without losers and winners.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. As a result of the invasion, hundreds of Greek Cypriots were listed as missing, most of whom soldiers or reservists, who were captured in the battlefield. Turkish Cypriots are also listed as missing.
A Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) was established in the early 1980, upon agreement between the leaders of the island`s two communities, with a view to exhuming, identifying and returning the remains of missing persons to their relatives.