Committee on Missing Persons identifies remains at three sites

The Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) announced this week that remains of four missing individuals were recovered during excavations at three separate locations. The findings include one individual each in Ayios Georgios Spatharikou and Kalo Chorio Kythreas, and two individuals in Lapithos.

Leonidas Pantelides, the Greek Cypriot member of the CMP, reported that active excavations are currently underway at eight sites: Assia, Lapithos, Exo Metochi, Neo Chorio Kythreas, Livadia Famagusta, Yerolakkos, Ayios Georgios Spatharikou, and a restricted military area in Karavas. Addressing the advisory body of the Pancyprian Organisation of Relatives of Missing Persons, Pantelides noted that pressure exerted on authorities has led to a relaxation of access restrictions within 25-metre zones at military sites. This specific concern had previously been raised with the UN Secretary-General during his visit to Cyprus in late July.

Pantelides also provided clarification regarding the official register of 2,002 missing Greek and Turkish Cypriots. He explained that the frequently cited figure of 1,619 for Greek Cypriot missing persons is inaccurate, as the actual total is 126 names lower, a correction intended to resolve ongoing confusion regarding the status of unresolved cases.