The humanitarian issue of the undeclared prisoners and missing persons of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus should take the due political gravity and publicity, so that this aspect would not fade in time, Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives has said.
According to a press release issued by the Parliament, Demetriou received on Monday a delegation of the Panhellenic Committee of Parents and Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy.
The meeting discussed issues concerning the fate of undeclared prisoners and missing persons, as well the difficulties arising, as this year marks 48 years since the July 20 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
After being briefed by the delegation on specific problems, Demetriou assured that she will take the necessary actions in hope that the whole process will show progress.
Moreover, Demetriou highlighted the need the issue to receive the due political gravity and publicity “so that this aspect would not fade in time given that it constitutes one of the most tragic consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus”, the press release added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. 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 to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.
Source: Cyprus News Agency