CYPRUS MISSING - BRUSSELS

CNA - Thursday 8th of May 2008

Families of Greek Cypriots, missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, have taken their case to the European Parliament, demanding the right to know what has happened to their loved ones.

Members of the Cyprus Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons and Undeclared Prisoners of War, headed by their President Nikos Theodosiou, have participated in a debate at the European Parliament, under the auspices of Cypriot Euro MP Panayiotis Demetriou.

German Euro MP Ewa Klamt, rapporteur on “missing persons in Cyprus” report of the European Parliament, British MP Ashley Mote, and Cypriot and Greek Euro MPs also participated. In his speech, Theodosiou presented the current situation in efforts to establish the fate of missing persons since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, noting that the Turkish Cypriot side has shown good intentions and this will help to deal with this humanitarian issue.
“We have to maintain this and make use of the positive climate which was created,” Theodosiou stressed.

Klamt expressed compassion for the agony and the decades-long emotional ordeal of the families of missing persons, noting that there is an obligation to help them find out what has happened to their loved ones. The German Euro MP further referred to her efforts to secure a debate on her report at the Plenary of the European Parliament in May. She stressed it is urgent to conclude the search for the fate of missing persons now that there are still people who possess information that can contribute to the efforts.

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