French Ambassador expresses her country's support in resolving Cyprus missing persons problem, CNA - Cyprus/NICOSIA 01/02/2021
France`s Ambassador in Nicosia Salina Grenet - Catalano has expressed her country`s support of the efforts by the Republic of Cyprus to resolve the matter of missing persons in the country and readiness to contribute in that direction.
Grenet - Catalano was speaking during a meeting she had here on Monday with Presidency Commissioner Fotis Fotiou, a presidency press release says.
"On her part, Grenet - Catalano underlined her country`s support of efforts by the Republic of Cyprus to resolve the matter of finding out what happened to the missing persons, expressing at the same time France`s willingness to contribute in that direction," the press release notes.
Fotiou "made a particular reference to the tragic problem of the missing persons in Cyprus stressing that the government sees this issue as a serious humanitarian matter which should be resolved without further delay, since it is a tragedy which causes both pain and suffering for nearly half a century to hundreds of families," the press release says.
Turkey, he added, must take substantial and effective steps and make crucial humanitarian and political decisions for progress to be achieved.
The Presidential Commissioner also referred to the need for Turkey to implement European Court of Human Rights decisions, to submit all data from burials made by the Turkish army from the collections of those who fell in the battlefield, as well as the need to submit data and information which are to be found in the Turkish army`s archives which have to do with deliberate removals of Greek Cypriots` remains from their initial burial sites.
He thanked Grenet - Catalano for France`s help and support so far in the efforts to resolve the tragedy of the missing persons in Cyprus, expressing at the same time his belief that France`s humanitarian policy will continue to the benefit of the families who are suffering.
Fotiou also discussed with the French Ambassador the possibility of cooperation between the two countries in matters of Diaspora, the press release concludes.
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 the remains of missing persons to their relatives.
CNA/EPH/GCH 2021
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
