Nicosia: The European Commission has formalized a £2.6 million agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to bolster the ongoing peacebuilding initiatives of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP). This accord signifies the 17th collaboration of its kind, highlighting the European Commission's dedication to enhancing peace and reconciliation on the island.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the funds, drawn from the EU's Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, are earmarked to assist CMP's mandate of locating, identifying, and repatriating the remains of missing persons to their respective families. The CMP's essential mission is to resolve the cases of 2,002 individuals-492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots-who vanished amid the inter-communal violence in 1963-1964 and the 1974 events.
The European Commission has consistently backed bi-communal scientific teams composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot specialists, who are integral to every phase of CMP's operations. This partnership not only supports the humanitarian endeavor to provide closure to affected families but also fosters mutual understanding and collaboration between the two communities-critical factors in propelling reconciliation in Cyprus.
Since 2006, the European Commission has emerged as the principal financial supporter of CMP's undertakings, with an aggregate contribution of £43.7 million. This substantial support has been pivotal in identifying 1,058 individuals, offering solace to grieving families and reinforcing the broader peacebuilding objectives on the island.