VILLIERS MEETS WITH MINISTER FOR EUROPE TO PRESS FOR ACTION ON CYPRUS MISSING PERSONS
Following a letter from the Organisation of the Relatives of Missing Cypriots, Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, today met with David Lidington, Minister for Europe, in Parliament to discuss progress on the Missing. Their meeting comes ahead of next week’s gathering of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, where the Cyprus v Turkey case on the Missing will be on the agenda for discussion.

During the meeting, Theresa urged David Lidington to put pressure on Turkey to allow access to areas in north Cyprus directly controlled by the Turkish military and which the Commission on Missing Persons has not been able to access. She also appealed to the Minister to use the UK’s presidency of the Council of Europe to raise the issue of the Missing and focus also on wider efforts to reunite Cyprus.

Theresa said, “I had a positive meeting with David Lidington and am pleased that the Cyprus v Turkey case on the Missing will be on the agenda at next week’s meeting of the Committee of Ministers.”

“The UK’s presidency of the Council of Europe is a good opportunity to push for answers on the missing and press for real progress on finding a balanced, lasting and peaceful settlement to reunite Cyprus.”

“At the top of the UK’s agenda must be tougher action on Turkey to fulfil its obligations and to ensure that effective measures are taken so that information is finally revealed about what really happened to Cyprus’ Missing Persons. This tragedy has gone on for far too long. The relatives of the Missing deserve to finally know the truth.”

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