Decorating once again the Christmas tree here in the centre of Nicosia, we send the message of our solidarity with the drama of the relatives of our missing persons who continue to climb their personal Calvary, asking for 48 years now for answers for their loved ones.
Our debt to them remains unfortunately unfulfilled due to the intransigence of the occupying power that persistently refuses to cooperate with good will and sincerity in the effort to clarify the last case of a missing person.
The decoration of the tree with the photos of the missing persons symbolizes a lot to us. It symbolises Turkey's responsibilities, the ongoing drama of the relatives, many of whom have passed away with all the pain and anguish and without any answers to the questions about their loved ones, but also our unfulfilled duty to find out the fate of all our missing persons, without exception. It also symbolises the reluctance of the international community to make a substantial contribution to the resolution of an entirely humanitarian issue that causes so much pain to the relatives.
Turkey should finally respond positively to the appeals made to it and to the extent required by the humanitarian nature of the problem. It should allow unrestricted exhumations on our occupied land, provide clear answers on the deliberate and violent removal of the remains of the missing from their original burial sites and allow researchers access to the archives of the occupying army, as it is obliged to do under the international conventions to which it is a signatory.
More than half of our compatriots, Greek Cypriots and Greeks, who were on the relevant list from the outset are still missing, that is, most of them are still missing. At the same time, the places where other of our compatriots who are among the fallen are also unclear.
This is an inhuman and unnatural situation that nullifies the principles and values of civilized humanity. We cannot and must not allow this tragedy to continue.
On the occasion of today's anniversary of the International Human Rights Day, we call on the world's powers, the United Nations, the European Union, to take initiatives and stand with us in our struggle to curb Turkish intransigence and end the tragedy of the missing persons.
For all those who are still missing, we will do everything necessary and possible to shine the truth about each individual case.
We hope that the Birth of the God-Man will soon bring messages of hope and expectations for the beginning of the end of the drama of the relatives. Their pain is our pain too.
Merry Christmas to all.
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