Excavations are currently under way in Kato Deryneia, in Agios Memnonas for 12 civilians – women and children – in a military area with two possible locations, and in Karavas, very close to the landing site, where bones wearing military clothing were found in a well at a depth of 12 metres, raising suspicions that the remains of missing persons may also be present.
Greek Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) Leonidas Pantelides announced the works on Monday, noting that excavations are also continuing in Ambelikou, where findings have already emerged and work is being expanded in the belief that more may be discovered.
Pantelides added that excavations are also under way at two sites in Lapithos, in Syrianochori, in the village of Galateia in Karpasia, as well as in Strovolos.
Speaking at a press conference for the 41st Marathon of Love for the Missing, held at the Archbishopric of Cyprus, Pantelides said that despite growing difficulties, the CMP’s efforts to locate all remaining missing persons continue.
“As everyone understands, the easier cases, where there was positive information, were investigated in the early years. However, we believe there is still a window of opportunity to locate known mass graves that have so far eluded us, despite repeated efforts in the past, while we also continue to pursue individual cases of missing persons,” he said.
1,800 excavations carried out to date
Pantelides noted that 126 excavations were carried out last year. Since excavations began in 2006, a total of 1,800 have been conducted. He added that around 100 sets of remains from previous excavations are currently held at the CMP laboratory. This year, authorities expect to complete between 30 and 35 identifications. He also said that 217 individuals not listed as missing have been identified – casualties whose fate was known but whose burial sites were not.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Presidential Commissioner Marios Hartsiotis announced €1 million secured in funding to carry out specialised genetic testing using a specific methodology. Referring to the Greek Cypriot missing only, he said that of the 1,619 missing persons to date, 859 – around 50 percent – have been identified, while 760 cases remain unresolved. Of the 859 identifications, 803 were completed through the CMP programme and 56 through the programme of the Republic of Cyprus.
Regarding the 77 missing from Greece, Hartsiotis said that 40 have been identified, with 37 still pending. Of the 44 missing from the period 1963-1964, 18 have been identified.
Referring to the Marathon of Love for the Missing, Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios said it “contributes directly to the ongoing effort to raise awareness at all levels and to exert meaningful pressure so that Turkey finally demonstrates sincere and practical cooperation in resolving this tragic humanitarian issue.”
CMP on missing persons in Cyprus
According to the CMP website, from the 2,002 missing persons recorded in Cyprus in 2006 (1,510 are Greek Cypriot and 492 Turkish Cypriot), 1,069 have been identified (764 Greek Cypriots and 305 Turkish Cypriots).