These images below were released by the Cyprus Press and Information Office on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. Greek Cypriot soldiers are pictured surrendering to advancing Turkish troops near Kiados or (Tziaos) village during the second phase of Turkey’s invasion of the island that started on August 14, 1974. The remains of the Greek Cypriot soldiers were recently identified after being unearthed from an abandoned well along with those of 14 other individuals in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the island.
More on this from Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras:
FM spokesman on Cyprus POWs
Foreign ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras said on Monday that the crimes and flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law by Turkey during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus were confirmed by the identification of the remains of Greek Cypriot prisoners found in a mass grave in an occupied village in Cyprus.
The remains of five Greek Cypriot prisoners of war (POWs) missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that were found in exhumations being carried out by the Investigation Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) at a mass grave in the Turkish-occupied village of Tziaos, have been identified through DNA testing, it was learned on the weekend. The remains of 14 other people were also found in the mass grave.
Replying to press questions on the identification of the remains of five of the 19 persons found in the mass grave as belonging to Greek Cypriot National Guard soldiers, Delavekouras made the following statement:
"These findings, as well as the information on the murder of the Greek Cypriot family in Lapithos, confirm the crimes and the flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law perpetrated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
"At long last, we need to see the full implementation of the relevant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which call for Turkey to take all the necessary measures to clear up all of the cases of persons who went missing during the Turkish invasion. An end must be put to the anguish experienced daily for 35 years now by the families of missing persons.
"As this particular case has shown, the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) is of vital importance in the efforts to make progress on this issue. We need to ensure the success of the CMP's humanitarian mission and its continued smooth and effective operation."
Foreign ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras said on Monday that the crimes and flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law by Turkey during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus were confirmed by the identification of the remains of Greek Cypriot prisoners found in a mass grave in an occupied village in Cyprus.
The remains of five Greek Cypriot prisoners of war (POWs) missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that were found in exhumations being carried out by the Investigation Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) at a mass grave in the Turkish-occupied village of Tziaos, have been identified through DNA testing, it was learned on the weekend. The remains of 14 other people were also found in the mass grave.
Replying to press questions on the identification of the remains of five of the 19 persons found in the mass grave as belonging to Greek Cypriot National Guard soldiers, Delavekouras made the following statement:
"These findings, as well as the information on the murder of the Greek Cypriot family in Lapithos, confirm the crimes and the flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law perpetrated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
"At long last, we need to see the full implementation of the relevant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which call for Turkey to take all the necessary measures to clear up all of the cases of persons who went missing during the Turkish invasion. An end must be put to the anguish experienced daily for 35 years now by the families of missing persons.
"As this particular case has shown, the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) is of vital importance in the efforts to make progress on this issue. We need to ensure the success of the CMP's humanitarian mission and its continued smooth and effective operation."
I have no doubt that we have not even touched the tip of numerous crimes committed by Turkish troops in Cyprus. I wonder how quickly an International Court would take this challenge and if Turkish commanders in Cyprus in 1974 are going to be indicted for war crimes.
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