**Greece Contributes €67,000 to Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus**
Greece has made a significant financial contribution of €67,000 to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, aimed at bolstering efforts to locate, identify, and return the remains of missing persons to their families. This latest contribution, made on June 30, 2023, raises Greece’s total financial support to the CMP to €542,000 since 2006, as reported by the committee.
The funding will assist the CMP in its operations throughout 2026, furthering its humanitarian mission to investigate the fates of missing persons from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Since its inception in 2006, the CMP has successfully identified and returned the remains of 1,075 missing individuals to their families for burial, providing closure to many who have long awaited answers.
The CMP was established in April 1981 under the auspices of the United Nations, following an agreement between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The formation of the committee was a response to calls from the United Nations General Assembly for a mechanism to address the pressing issue of missing persons in Cyprus, a situation that has persisted since the island's division in 1974.
The CMP's project focused on the exhumation, identification, and return of remains became operational in 2006, marking a significant step in addressing the humanitarian concerns surrounding missing persons. The committee has relied heavily on international donor support to sustain its operations, with the European Union being the principal financial contributor.
In its recent statement, the CMP emphasized the importance of continued support from donors, highlighting that such contributions are essential for the implementation of its bicommunal humanitarian work. The ongoing efforts of the CMP not only aim to provide answers to families but also to foster reconciliation between the two communities on the island.
As the CMP continues its vital work, the support from Greece and other international donors remains crucial in advancing the committee's mission and ensuring that the memories of those who went missing are honored and preserved.