Photiou suggests Cyprus to provide know-how that will help establish the fate of Armenian missing persons, CNA - Cyprus/NICOSIA 26/10/2021
Cyprus Presidential Commissioner, Photis Photou, and President of the Armenian National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, underlined on Tuesday the importance of the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Armenia and of the trilateral cooperation among Cyprus, Greece and Armenia on Diaspora issues.
Photiou who met with Simonyan at the Presidential Palace, in the framework of the latter`s state visit to Cyprus heading a delegation, suggested that Cyprus provides know-how that will help establish the fate of Armenian missing persons.
According to a Presidency press release, Photiou briefed the Armenian official on various issues related to his competencies and commended the fraternal long-standing relations between the Cypriots and the Armenians, noting that these relations are based on common traditions, historic similarities and their struggles for survival always within the framework of the international law and the respect of human rights.
Moreover, he informed the President of the Armenian National Assembly about the actions and the ongoing efforts made by the government with a view to reach a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Moreover he referred to the Armenians living in Cyprus and assured of the continuous and unwavering support of the government to them.
Photiou also elaborated on the issue of missing persons in Cyprus noting Turkey`s responsibilities for the fact that this problem has not been solved yet.
On his part, Simonyan expressed deep gratitude that Cyprus was the first country which brought up the issue of the recognition of the Armenian genocide to the UN General Assembly plenary in 1965 and the second country in the world that recognised the genocide in 1975.
He also expressed the full support of his country to the peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem and to efforts to solve the missing persons issue.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Numerous rounds of talks under the UN aegis to reunite the island under a federal roof failed to yield results.
Since the Turkish invasion 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 missing persons.
CNA/MK/EPH/2021
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
