Nicosia: So far this year, 12 individuals from the official list of missing persons of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) have been identified, while remains believed to belong to 20 individuals have been found in eight excavations, Leonidas Pantelides, the Greek Cypriot member of the CMP, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
According to Cyprus News Agency, Pantelides highlighted the crucial role of information in aiding the efforts of the CMP, emphasizing that every detail contributes to forming a complete picture regarding burial sites. When asked about the number of identifications made this year, Pantelides confirmed that 12 individuals from the official CMP list have been identified, with additional identifications expected to be completed in 2026.
Responding to inquiries about whether these numbers align with previous years, Pantelides noted that they are approximately at the same levels, describing the situation as 'decreased, but stable.' He explained that the process is dependent on the findings, mentioning that 20 findings from this year are yet to be identified, indicating that identifications require time.
Pantelides elaborated that the 12 identifications pertain to remains found in 2024, as well as some challenging cases located earlier but only now identified. He assured that once the remains are identified, families are promptly informed.
This year, the CMP has discovered remains believed to correspond to 20 individuals across eight excavations. However, as Pantelides noted, confirmation through the identification process, which takes several months, is necessary. He refrained from disclosing the locations of the findings to avoid potential distress to families until identifications are completed.
Pantelides further revealed that out of nearly 130 excavations conducted this year, eight yielded findings. He pointed out that the number of excavation sites increased by about 20% compared to the previous year. Last year, excavations occurred at approximately 105-106 sites, whereas this year they are nearing 130 by the end of the week.
Regarding personnel, Pantelides stated that there is currently sufficient staff for nine excavation crews, but not all are operating simultaneously. At present, eight are active. He explained that if a site requires urgent attention, two teams might collaborate, but typically eight to nine teams are in operation.
Pantelides addressed the flow of information, acknowledging that while new information is received, it often pertains to cases already known to the CMP, sometimes lacking accuracy. He emphasized the importance of even small details from the public to complete missing pieces, as locating missing persons after so many years is challenging.
He mentioned that the first missing persons date back to December 1963, and urged the public to share any information that could aid the CMP's efforts. Pantelides also highlighted ongoing restrictions in military areas in the Turkish occupied territories, noting no change in this aspect.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory, leaving the fate of hundreds unknown. The Committee on Missing Persons was established to exhume, identify, and return the remains of missing persons to their families. Statistical data from the CMP website indicates that by November 30, 2025, of the 2,002 missing persons, 1,713 were exhumed and 1,058 identified. Among Greek Cypriots, 762 of 1,510 were identified, while among Turkish Cypriots, 296 out of 492 were identified.