MISSING PERSONS COMMITTEE COMPLETED ITS DRAFT PROJECT ON MISSING PERSONS (20.04.2006)

Missing Persons Committee completed its draft project on excavations, identity identification studies and returning of bones of missing persons to their relatives.

According to the written statement issued by the committee, it was stated that the committee has been engaging in intensive studies for the last couple of weeks and the bi-communal expert group carried out educational studies including need assessment and excavations.

The statement pointed out that during the excavations carried out recently in Mesarya plain at the South-East of Lefkosa, bones belonging to 10 missing person found. The statement added that, following the implementation of the project, the bones will be taken to Anthropology Laboratory, which belongs to the committee and is located at a UN-controlled region.

Pointing out that the Anthropology Laboratory was nearly completed, the statement said the laboratory in the Turkish Cypriot side was operating and DNA tests on blood samples taken from the relatives of the missing persons were continuing in order to identify the identities of the missing persons.

It was also stated that the committee was searching ways of getting financial support for the implementation of the project and the completion of the laboratory.

The statement added that the newly appointed third member of the Committee, Christopher Girod was expected to come to the island soon, and as it was stated in the articles establishing the Committee, the presence of the third member was necessary to continue the studies for identifying the missing persons.