De-politicizing the Issue of Missing Persons
President Ersin Tatar Pays Visit to Missing Persons Committee
President Ersin Tatar recently made a visit to the Missing Persons Committee to congratulate the employees on their hard work and dedication. During the visit, President Tatar met with the Turkish Cypriot Member of the Missing Persons Committee, Hakkı Müftüzade, and commended the committee for their important work.
In his statement, President Tatar highlighted the sensitivity and difficulty of the work carried out by the Missing Persons Committee and emphasized the importance of their efforts. He also mentioned that, following his meetings with the United Nations and the Greek Cypriot leader, it was agreed to continue excavations in line with information provided to the committee.
President Tatar stressed the humanitarian aspect of the issue of missing persons and emphasized that it should not be politicized. He assured that the Turkish Cypriot side is conducting excavations based on information received and witness accounts.
Despite opposition from the Greek side, excavations at the mass grave in Atlılar have begun, with plans for each martyr to have a separate grave after identification, similar to the process in Muratağa and Sandallar.
President Tatar noted that most of the Greek Cypriot losses occurred in 1974, while Turkish losses, mainly civilians, occurred in 1974 and prior. He mentioned the case of MP Cengiz Ratip, a Turkish missing person who has been unreachable for 61 years.
Hakkı Müftüzade, the Turkish Cypriot Member of the Missing Persons Committee, expressed satisfaction with President Tatar’s visit. Müftüzade emphasized that the issue of missing persons should not be politicized and highlighted the importance of the committee’s meticulous work. He mentioned plans to expand the team and enhance efficiency with new equipment in 2025.
The visit and discussions between President Tatar and the Missing Persons Committee demonstrate a commitment to resolving the issue of missing persons and providing closure for families affected by past conflicts.
