TRNC News Today 11^th February 2016

Joint Appeal from Leaders about Missing Persons

President Mustafa Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades issued a joint message for support in finding the whereabouts of missing persons.

The video was prepared in the Anthropology Lab which was visited by the leaders last December and will be published as a public service announcement. In the video, a joint call was made by the leaders to those who have information regarding the burial sites of missing persons to share this with the Missing Persons Committee.

President Akıncı and the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades made the similar call last year on 28th May after their meeting and they asked those who have information about missing persons to share this with the Committee of Missing Persons.

Religious leaders in Cyprus came together with Eide

Religious leaders in Cyprus who are in collaboration for a while, met with the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.

The head of the Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Talip Atalay, Greek Cypriot Archbishop Hrisostomos II, Armenian Archbishop Nareg, Maronite Archbishop Youssef Soueif and the Latin Patriarchal Vicar Jerzy Kraj came together at a special lunch hosted by the Swedish Ambassador Klas Gierow, in his residence in Nicosia.

Following the meeting, Eide told members of the press that the meeting was very interesting and positive and the religious leaders were working closely to support reunification. “This island is an island of many faiths and people of different religions but without any form of religious conflict,” said Eide.

Eide stressed that the religious leaders are supporting peace and unity in the island.

Speaking at the meeting President of Religious Affairs Prof.Dr.Talip Atalay stated that the association of religious leaders on the island is important not only for Cyprus but also for the whole world.

Atalay also stated that he will give his utmost support to both leaders for an acceptable peace for both communities.

In his speech Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church Hrisostomos II said: “As the religious leaders, we agree on all issues and we give our blessings to the two leaders to achieve a solution, and we will contribute towards that end so that our people will live together again in peace”.

In his turn, Maronite Archbishop Yussef Sweif expressed his support to the ongoing Cyprus peace talks.

Missing Martyr Beyaz buried

Missing Martyr Ahmet Naim Beyaz who was martyred on 22 July 1974 in Paphos and the remains found in an excavation by the Committee on Missing Persons, was buried with a ceremony at Lefkoşa Cemetery yesterday.

Speaking at the ceremony the President of the Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans, Ertan Ersan stated that missing martyr Beyaz was born in 1906 and when he died, he was 68 years old.

Ersan said that while he was driving a bus, Beyaz was killed by a Greek Cypriot on 22 July 1974.

Ersan also gave information about the number of the missing persons and said that 493 people are recorded as missing from 1955 to 1974 and 149 of them were buried after identification.