CMP carrying out excavations in seven areas

CMP crews are carrying out excavations for the remains of missing persons in six areas across the island but so far none have been located, officials said on Friday.

The Cyprus News Agency said that according to information from the Greek Cypriot representative’s office, crews are now working in one area in the Republic and in six locations in the north.

In all but two areas the remains of Greek Cypriots who went missing during the 1974 Turkish invasion are believed to be buried there. In one area, in Nicosia’s Sopaz, CMP archaeologists are looking for the remains of one Turkish Cypriot who went missing in 1963-1964 period.

In the north works are underway in a military area in Kerynia, for which special permission was given, in addition to two areas in Templos, one in Lividia in the Karpasia peninsula, one in Assia and one in Mora. In Templos the first phase of excavations took place in 2019 and very small bone particles were found and now works are underway to locate more remains.

In Assia it is the third time excavations have been are carried out to locate the remains of two Turkish Cypriots who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964.

The crew in Sopaz started work in August but due to high temperatures stopped although work has now resumed. Information regarding the remains of a Turkish Cypriot was collected back in 2015, more research was carried out and a witness located. Excavations will continue for one or two more weeks.