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Tag: missing persons

  • Erhurman hahn: Tufan Erhurman Engages with EU Envoy Hahn Amid Controversy

    Erhurman hahn: Tufan Erhurman Engages with EU Envoy Hahn Amid Controversy

    erhurman hahn — erhurman hahn — The Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met this week with the European Union’s special representative for Cyprus, Johannes Hahn, sparking criticism from senior Turkish Cypriot officials who labelled the meeting a breach of protocol.

    Erhurman announced the meeting on social media on Wednesday evening, detailing discussions that revolved around EU-related issues pertinent to the island’s divided communities. Topics included the Schengen process, EU citizenship rights for children of mixed marriages, and direct contact with EU institutions.

    Erhurman hahn: Key Discussions on EU Matters

    During the meeting, Erhurman highlighted several significant matters, such as the ad hoc EU committee on alignment, rules regarding direct trade, the EU-supported GSI project, halloumi registration, and initiatives related to solar energy in the buffer zone. He accompanied his announcement with a photograph of the interaction with Hahn.

    Recent Joint Visits and Humanitarian Efforts

    This meeting followed a joint visit by Erhurman and the Greek Cypriot leader to the CMP anthropological laboratory, where they received updates on the organisation’s work concerning missing persons. Erhurman described supporting the laboratory as a duty and emphasised the importance of preventing the politicisation of its research. He expressed sympathy for families affected by the issue from both communities.

    Criticism from Turkish Cypriot Officials

    However, not all were supportive of the meeting. Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu publicly denounced the encounter, labelling it a mistake. He argued that Hahn’s role was appointed unilaterally by the European Commission, which he claimed only consulted with the Greek Cypriot leadership.

    Ertugruloglu contended that EU institutions have consistently favoured the Greek Cypriot side since the Republic of Cyprus’s accession to the EU in 2004. He reinforced that all Cyprus-related processes should occur under the oversight of the United Nations secretary-general, requiring consent from both sides for personal envoys and UN peacekeeping officials.

    Calls for Increased Cooperation and Equality

    The Foreign Minister further asserted that the Turkish Cypriot authorities view Hahn’s appointment as an internal EU issue and cannot recognise it in official negotiations. He cautioned that unilateral actions by the EU could jeopardise ongoing diplomatic efforts within the UN framework.

    Stressing the importance of cooperation based on sovereign equality, Ertugruloglu called for the EU to lift political, economic, and cultural restrictions on Turkish Cypriots. He argued that such steps would demonstrate a genuine commitment to the peace process on the island.

  • Missing sailboat — Four Israelis Rescued After Missing Sailboat Found Between Cyprus and Israel

    Missing sailboat — Four Israelis Rescued After Missing Sailboat Found Between Cyprus and Israel

    missing sailboat — missing sailboat — Four Israeli nationals have been safely located after their sailboat was reported missing in the waters between Cyprus and Israel. This successful rescue concludes a significant search and rescue operation that began when the vessel, which had set sail from Israel on 2 December, failed to arrive in Crete as planned.

    The Cyprus Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) played a pivotal role in the search, coordinating efforts throughout the day. The JRCC activated the national ‘Nearchos’ search and rescue plan, which involved collaboration with both Greek and Israeli authorities. Cypriot air assets were mobilised to aid in the search, along with assistance from nearby commercial vessels that were in the area.

    According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, officials worked closely with their counterparts in Greece and Cyprus to locate the missing sailors, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in maritime emergencies. The vessel was located successfully today, bringing relief to the families of those onboard.

    As the situation unfolded, concerns arose regarding the circumstances under which the sailboat departed from Israel. An investigation has been ordered to examine why the vessel was permitted to leave, especially given the weather warnings that were in effect at the time, signalling a storm system approaching the region.

    This rescue operation demonstrates the commitment of authorities in Cyprus and Israel to ensure the safety of their citizens at sea, and the swift response from multiple agencies played a crucial role in bringing this incident to a positive conclusion.

  • Excavations for Missing Persons Yield No Results Yet

    Excavations for Missing Persons Yield No Results Yet

    Excavations are currently underway at eight sites by the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), yet no remains of missing persons have been discovered so far. The operations, which involve seven teams in the north and one in the south, are focused on uncovering the fates of individuals who went missing during the intercommunal violence and the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

    Missing persons: Sites of Interest Across Cyprus

    The ongoing excavations include notable locations such as Assia, where two CMP teams are specifically excavating wells. These efforts are marked by the archaeological significance of the site, particularly concerning Greek Cypriot missing persons. In the Karpas peninsula, a team is probing the village lake at Galatia, where two mass graves were previously identified in 2006 and 2015. These discoveries led to the identification of 18 individuals, and sources suggest that a third mass grave, potentially containing up to three people, may lie within the lake.

    Challenges in Finding Remains

    Despite the extensive efforts, including broadening search areas, the CMP teams have yet to find any remains. In Exo Metochi, the team is investigating a field where human remains were reportedly spotted in 1974. Although investigators were directed to a specific point, thirty days into their search yielded no results. Similarly, in Kioneli, where remains of missing Greek soldiers have been previously found, current excavations have also turned up empty.

    Additional Excavation Efforts

    Two other excavation sites in the north include Dikomo and Kumurcu. In Dikomo, the focus is on a riverbed based on information regarding Greek Cypriot soldiers, while work in Kumurcu involves a kiln site. Unfortunately, both sites have yet to produce any findings, and work continues.

    Investigations in the South

    The eighth excavation site is located in Engomi, Nicosia, where teams are exploring seven wells. Reports indicate that Turkish Cypriots missing since the intercommunal violence of 1963-1964 may be buried there. However, like the other sites, no remains have surfaced.

    The Broader Context of the Search

    Currently, there are a total of 2,002 missing persons, with 1,051 identified to date. Notably, 216 individuals were identified after not being included on the CMP’s official list. The missing persons include 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, primarily from the tumultuous periods of 1963-1964 and the 1974 invasion.