The humanitarian issue of the missing persons in Cyprus remains unresolved for 42 years clearly due to Turkey`s stance, Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Issues Fotis Fotiou has stressed.

Fotiou was addressing the deliberations of the World Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) conference which opened in Nicosia in the framework of the 8th World Conference of the Organization of Young Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK) and the 26th meeting of the Central Council of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) and PSEKA.

Fotiou called upon the overseas federations to intensify their efforts in their respective countries of residence so that there is progress in the humanitarian issues of the missing persons.

Time is our greatest enemy, Fotiou said, noting that it is a shame for the international community that after 42 years there is no solution of the missing persons issue.

Thanking the diaspora for their efforts throughout the decades, Fotiou said that more must be done.

He also said that the issue should concern the US as well, since there are Americans on the missing persons list.

The problem of the missing persons is unresolved 42 years now clearly due to Turkey, he said.
And recalled that it was the first issue raised by President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades when negotiations for the Cyprus issue began between himself and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
The issue is not political, it is humanitarian and the international community must address it in a humanitarian manner and exert pressure on Turkey to finally cooperate and open its military archives where information on the missing persons is kept.

He stressed that the work of the Committee on Missing Persons is in danger since lately no remains of Greek Cypriots or Greeks are located in the Turkish occupied areas and thus the Committee can no longer do its work.

If in the coming months no information is given as to the location of mass raves, the CMP`s work is in danger, he underlined.
Fotiou also referred to the request since 2001 of the Republic of Cyprus towards the UN to open its UNFICYP archives on the missing, noting that only recently the international organisation has responded to Cyprus` calls.
PSEKA President Phillip Christofer called upon the overseas Cypriots to double their efforts saying that 42 years are too many.

President of the Pancyprian Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons Nicos Sergides, said that the path is still long, since Turkey was not convinced yet to cooperate.

The biggest problem is Turkey and the relocation of remains of our missing relatives he added.

The conference also discussed issues related to a more active involvement of the diaspora youth.
Fitiou said that the youth is our future and talked about university long distance programs for the youth to get to know their homeland, the language and culture.

Fotiou also said that there will be a cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel on diaspora issues, noting that this matter will be introduced at the tripartite cooperation and will be discussed in November in Jerusalem on high level. He also said that Armenia is also interested in cooperating on diaspora issues.

Opening earlier the conference, PSEKA president Philip Christopher said that the organisation includes 400,000-500,000 Cypriots and accepts all organisations that are wiling to take part in its cause.

During the conference, the directors of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute (CAARI) presented the institute`s work, which deals with archaeological cultural heritage of Cyprus.

Chris Christodoulou, a CAARI trustee said it operates only in the government controlled areas of Cyprus. The scope and work of the institute which promotes studies of Cypriot archeology and related humanistic disciplines, were presented by Dr. Andrew McCarthy and Pamela Gaber who said that it is a hub for history and research in Cyprus.

Andy Manatos, whom Christopher described as “our voice in Washington”, president of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, said they are working on getting policy makers to take the Cyprus issue high on the US agenda.

He said with a possible election to the US presidency of Hilary Clinton, around 85-90 people around her are “our friends”. If Donald Trump is elected, one third of the people close to him are Hellenes “and we have a very personal relationship with them”, he added, stressing “we will have access to him”.

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