CoE Committee on missing persons: Turkey must ensure unhindered access to all areas

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has taken note of a decision by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe, to continue monitoring the implementation of the ECHR Decision on the Fourth Inter-State Case Cyprus v. Turkey (Missing Persons) + Varnava and others v. Turkey.

In its decision, the Committee recorded the importance of humanitarian issues related to the missing persons’ aspect in Cyprus and called on Turkey to ensure that the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) has unhindered access to all areas where missing persons' remains might be found. It must further provide the CMP with all relevant information regarding possible burial sites.

According to an announcement by the Foreign Ministry, the Committee urges Turkey to submit to the Committee of Deputies updated information as regards its assistance to the CMP and its work for investigations into the circumstances under which the missing persons died.

Furthermore, it said the Committee of Deputies deplores Turkey's failure to respond to its unconditional obligation to pay the sum for the damages awarded against it by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) the cases of Cyprus v. Turkey and Varnava and others v. Turkey. The Committee urged Turkey to proceed with the abovementioned payment of just satisfaction, without further delay.

“The decision of the Committee of Ministers' Deputies confirms that Turkey must take all necessary measures to implement the abovementioned decisions, according to which it has been held responsible for the ongoing human rights’ violations and for the suffering it has caused to the relatives of the missing persons as a result of the invasion and continued occupation of Cyprus,” the ministry concluded.

(Source: PIO)