Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues and Overseas Cypriots Photis Photiou has asked the United Nations to exert pressure on Turkey regarding the missing persons issue.
Photiou on Monday met with UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim and according to a press release issued by his office, he pointed out that UN need to exert pressure so that Turkey cooperates and provides information on this humanitarian issue.
He also noted that the UN need to take action as regard the movement of human remains by the Turkish forces in occupied Cyprus, saying that this is a double crime and UN cannot remain indifferent.
Photiou and Buttenheim also discussed issues regarding the enclaved in occupied Cyprus and the violation of their human rights. The UN official assured the Commissioner that she will do her utmost so that these issues are resolved.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. 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 the remains of missing persons to their relatives.
The number of effective exumations declined in the last three years mainly due to Turkey`s refusal to cooperate by giving data from military archives and by allowing exhumations in so-called military areas.
Cyprus has called on Turkey to provide information with regard to the burial sites as well as the sites of missing persons whose remains have been transferred and reburied.