The Missing Cypriots

Tuesday, January 27 1998

UN chief welcomes exchange of information on missing

Further articles:
Cyprus hails Annan's statement on missing (Cyprus News Agency)

Nicosia, Jan 27 (CNA) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan welcomes developments concerning the exchange of information about the location of graves of missing persons in Cyprus.

The UN Secretary-General's Spokesman, Fred Eckhard, speaking to reporters, referred to the exchange of information last week between Greek Cypriot Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner, Takis Christopoulos and Turkish Cypriot representative, Rustem Tatar, in the presence of UN envoy, Gustave Feissel.

He said a tripartite Committee on Missing Persons was established in 1981 following an agreement between the parties.

After the resignation of one of the members of the Committee in 1996, the "Secretary-General indicated he would appoint a replacement as soon as he was informed of the exchange of the information between the parties".

"The S.G. therefore welcomes the development on Friday", Eckhard said.

He noted Kofi Anan "has been in touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning the selection of the third member of the Committee on Missing Persons".

The Greek Cypriot side handed information on 200 Turkish Cypriots missing (of a total of 503 cases). The Turkish Cypriot side gave information about 400 Greek Cypriots (of a total of 1,493 cases, delivered to the Committee).

A total of 1,619 Greek Cypriots and Greeks were listed as missing soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

Cyprus hails Annan's statement on missing

Nicosia, Jan 23 (CNA) -- Representatives of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides exchanged today information about the location of graves of missing persons.

The two representatives agreed to "meet again soon" and said they would continue their work to obtain information on the graves of more Greek and Turkish Cypriot missing and described today's encounter as an important step forward.

This is the first time the two sides on this divided island have exchanged information about missing persons in a bid to make headway towards resolving this humanitarian issue.

The meeting took place at the Ledra Palace Hotel, situated in the UN- controlled buffer zone in Nicosia. It is the only check-point leading to the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus from the government-controlled territory.

In a brief statement to the press after the 45-minute long meeting, top UN envoy in Cyprus Gustave Feissel said today's meeting "is the implementation of the July 31 (1997) agreement" between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The chief of mission of the UN operation here said the representatives, Takis Christopoulos (Greek Cypriot) and Rustem Tatar (Turkish Cypriot), met "to exchange information on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons."

They indicated that their respective sides would "continue their efforts to obtain information on the location of graves of further Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons."

The statement said the two men "agreed to meet again soon to discuss the preparation of arrangements leading to the return of the remains of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons in question."

All three men refrained from replying to any questions from the press.

Christopoulos said the meeting was "important as it is the beginning of the implementation of the July agreement."

Tatar said "I think both sides are sincere and we will proceed."

Replying to questions, he said resolving the issue of the missing persons could help efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question.

Tatar was not in a position to say how long the sides would take to study the information made available to them on the missing.

The Greek Cypriot side handed information on 200 Turkish Cypriots missing (of a total of 503 cases) and the Turkish Cypriot side gave information about 400 Greek Cypriots (of a total of 1,493 cases delivered to the committee of missing persons).

A total of 1,619 Greek Cypriots and Greeks were listed as missing soon after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

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