The intentional relocation of remains belonging to missing persons has occurred in at least four sites in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, according to a government memorandum to the Council of Europe (CoE).
The Council of Ministers convenes next week in Strasbourg, between December 6 and 8, and is expected to discuss the issue of missing persons and Turkey`s non-compliance with relevant European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions.
In the memorandum, the government of Cyprus sets three main issues, on which Turkey must take action in relation to the issue of missing persons. In particular, Nicosia calls on Turkey to provide access to crucial information, conduct effective investigations and give information on relocation of remains.
Concerning the latter, the memorandum notes that within the framework of the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), it has been determined that a large number of missing persons’ remains were, at some point in time, intentionally removed from their primary burial places, and transferred to unknown locations.
“CMP has determined that these actions involved considerable effort and the use of heavy machinery” it goes on, adding that these acts “were no doubt deliberate and intended to conceal evidence of a crime”.
According to Nicosia, “the intentional relocation of remains occurred so far in four sites in the occupied areas of Cyprus” and these cases cannot be considered closed until the complete remains of the missing persons have been discovered. They will remain pending until all remains are identified and returned to the families, it is added.
The government of Cyprus also underlines that despite repeated pleas to Turkey and the various decisions of the Committee of Ministers, to provide information to CMP of the new burial locations, Turkey continues to avoid providing any such information.
“There is no doubt that Turkey alone is responsible for conducting effective investigations, in order to establish the fate and conditions of disappearance of all Greek Cypriot missing persons” it is noted.
According to Nicosia, Turkey’s obligations cannot be discharged with reference to the nature of CMP`s work, which has a humanitarian mandate solely to conduct investigations in order to establish the fate of all missing persons in Cyprus.
It further stresses that Turkey has yet to abide by the Court’s judgment, “thus prolonging the anguish and suffering of the victims”.
In its memorandum, the Republic of Cyprus proposes to the Council of Ministers to adopt a decision in its forthcoming meeting, calling upon the Turkish authorities to examine “proprio motu” – on its own impulse – the reports and military archives containing information on burial sites, the relocation of remains and the clearance of battlefields.
Nicosia finally asks other CoE member states to reaffirm in their decision Turkey`s unconditional obligation to pay damages awarded by the ECHR without delay.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern part. UN brokered peace talks resumed in May 2015 aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus was 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.
