The Turkish government has made a significant donation of $100,000 to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), highlighting its commitment to addressing the sensitive issue of missing persons in Cyprus.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
This donation was officially presented on Wednesday by Turkish ambassador in Nicosia, Ali Murat Basceri, to Hakki Muftuzade, the Turkish Cypriot member of the CMP. Basceri expressed the profound impact of the missing persons issue, stating it has “directly affected the lives of many people on the island.”
He further reflected on the emotional weight of this issue, saying, “We can feel this deep wound within ourselves. We experience it. We see it,” sharing his personal connection as he knows many friends whose relatives went missing during the tragic events spanning from 1963 to 1974.
Basceri emphasised Turkey’s responsibility as a guarantor and its dedication to the welfare of the Turkish Cypriots, noting the importance of the CMP in these efforts. Muftuzade welcomed the donation as “very meaningful,” reiterating that Turkey supports the CMP financially on an annual basis. He expressed that this contribution will significantly bolster the committee’s ongoing work.
Despite the positive developments, Muftuzade voiced concern over attempts by some Greek Cypriot politicians to politicise the CMP’s work. He reaffirmed the committee’s primary goal: to foster trust between the two communities.
Established in 1981 and operational since 2006, the CMP aims to locate and identify a total of 2,002 people who went missing during Cyprus’ intercommunal conflicts. As of September 30 this year, the CMP has successfully exhumed 1,707 bodies and identified the remains of 1,057 individuals. This includes 216 additional identifications.
Among those identified, 296 were Turkish Cypriots and 761 were Greek Cypriots. In the current year alone, the remains of 17 individuals have been discovered, with six identified—five of whom were Greek Cypriots and one a Turkish Cypriot.
The CMP relies heavily on donations, receiving support from nation states and international organisations. Former CMP third member Paul-Henri Arni noted that Cyprus has achieved the “second-best results in the world” in the search for missing persons. In comparison, many countries dealing with similar issues see success rates below 20 per cent, with some at a stark zero per cent.
As the CMP continues its vital work, the Turkish government’s donation underscores the ongoing commitment to uncovering the truth behind the missing persons and fostering reconciliation within the island’s divided communities.
