CYPRUS: Nicosia dig to find remains of two Turkish Cypriots missing since 1964

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An excavation will begin on August 27 at a site in Strovolos, Nicosia, in search of the remains of two Turkish Cypriots missing since the 1964 troubles.


A reliable source told the Cyprus News Agency that the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) will also resume their work on Monday, at five sites in the Turkish-held north of the island: a military zone in Dikomo, Katokopia, Arsos and Ayios Loukas both in Famagusta and Vouno. There have been no findings so far at these sites.

Excavations at the sites in the north concern Greek Cypriots who went missing in 1974, except the one in Ayios Loukas which is for a Turkish Cypriot who has also been missing since 1974.

The latter is the most long-standing excavation among the ones which are under way. It began in April this year.

The source said: “We are trying to make a more thorough analysis of the information that we have.” Maps are used as are satellite images of 1963, 1970, and more recent ones from 2003 onwards.

The source also said that crews use metal detectors and a ground penetration radar, and on September 3 they are planning to conduct a survey at five sites in Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia.

Information about the sites in Famagusta and Kyrenia concern Greek Cypriots missing since 1974, while sites in Nicosia are for Turkish Cypriots missing since 1964.

Currently there are 35 experts employed by CMP to work at the sites: 17 Greek Cypriots and 18 Turkish Cypriots – mainly archaeologists. Each crew comprises two Greek Cypriots and two Turkish Cypriots.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

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 CMP is a tripartite intercommunal investigatory committee comprising a representative of the Greek Cypriot community, a representative of the Turkish Cypriot community, and a Third Member nominated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and appointed by the UN Secretary General.

Following the establishment of an agreed list of missing persons, the CMP’s objective is to recover, identify, and return to their families, the remains of 2000 persons (492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,508 Greek Cypriots) who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963 to 1964 and the Turkish invasion of 1974.

Less than half this total (889) have been identified and returned to their families for a proper burial (Greek Cypriots: 664) and (Turkish Cypriots: 225)

Most Greek Cypriot were declared missing after 1974 and the vast majority of Turkish Cypriot after the 1963-64 conflict.