Presidential Statement
"The most important task for the EU is to advise the Greek Cypriot leadership to refrain from disrupting bilateral relations by undermining the issue through the press, and to support the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP), if it wants to be constructive and contribute to such a humanitarian issue."
The Greek Cypriot Leadership continues to make statements in relation to the issue of missing persons, which does not conform with good faith, which concerns Turkish Cypriots as well as Greek Cypriots equally.
Speaking on behalf of the Greek Cypriot Leadership, Greek presidential commissioner Fotis Fotiu continues to turn such a humanitarian issue into propaganda material and to cast a shadow over the activities carried out by the CMP with statements targeting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Turkey.
As the Turkish Cypriot side, we fully support the CMP and we provide financial and other types of contributions, to ensure the body continues its activities effectively.
Greek Cypriot Commissioner Fotis Fotiu was reported to have claimed in a statement to Greek Cypriot press, that the role of the European Union in the issue of missing persons is ‘decisive’ and ‘essential’.
The financial support of 33,300,000 Euros by the European Union to the CMP since 2006, which is derived from the financial aid allocated to the Turkish Cypriots, is transferred to the activities of the Committee, which includes the losses of both parties.
The most important duty of the European Union is to advise the Greek Cypriot leadership to refrain from disrupting bilateral relations by undermining the issue through the press and to support the CMP, if it wants to be constructive and contribute to such a humanitarian issue.
Following the election of TRNC President Ersin Tatar, all the necessary measures were provided even during the pandemic period, in order to prevent any obstacles and interruptions to the work of the CMP. This support continues from the Turkish Cypriot side today on this very important humanitarian issue.
We are compelled once again, based on the point reached, to advise the Greek Cypriot leadership to put an end to its black propaganda through the press and to support these efforts with good will and sincerity, in order to ensure that these efforts continue in a healthy and effective manner.