The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Anastasiades received today, at the Presidential Palace, a delegation of the Pancyprian Organization of Relatives of Captured and Missing Persons, as well as representatives of the corresponding Greek organization, in the presence of the Commissioner for the Presidency Mr.
During the meeting, addressing the members of the delegation, the President of the Republic said: "I would like to welcome you and express my great satisfaction for the close cooperation we had in order to discern one of the most important humanitarian issues of the Turkish invasion of '74, apart from the loss of human lives, the most important humanitarian drama lived by the families of our missing persons.
Together with the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Fotis Fotiou, who proved to be one of my most important partners in this humanitarian issue, we have made so many efforts, especially him personally, to the Secretary General, to the European Union, every possible action has been taken, because we are not talking about politics or differences between states, but we are talking about something that touches on human suffering, human sensitivity. Therefore, we have done our utmost, and I would hope that today, as I leave the Presidency, I would like to say that it has finally been resolved, that somewhere you know something, so that you too can feel a sense of relief. I regret that, unfortunately, even on this humanitarian issue, the Turkish intransigence, despite the promises, despite the statements that they would open 30 so many points to investigate the fate of our missing persons, they have broken their commitments or promises, as with other issues relating to the Cyprus issue. Fotis Fotiou will have the opportunity to go into detail about what and how many efforts we have made and what we have achieved in this decade. What I want to express is my absolute gratitude and respect for the relatives and for their patience and for living all these years through a much worse drama than those who were lucky enough to bury their dead, to mourn their dead, to commemorate their dead. In contrast to some thousands of relatives of the missing whose hundreds of missing relatives whose fate has not yet been determined.
I would like to make special mention of my friend and President of the Greek organization of relatives of the missing, Mrs. Maria Kalbourtzi, whom I met during our many meetings. Her father is one of those whose fate was discovered, but she never ceased to share the drama of the brothers from Greece, and not only, because her presence here was an expression of her concern and love for all those who suffered".
The President of the Republic also praised the important role of the President and the members of the Pancyprian Organisation of Relatives of Captured and Missing Persons and their excellent cooperation with Commissioner Fotiou "who did everything humanly possible to help in the common goal".
(BIO/NG)
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