Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-01-12

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Exchange of information on missing next week

1150:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Exchange of information on missing next week

UN Deputy Special Representative for Cyprus Gustave Feissel told CNA today the Turkish Cypriot side has handed the relevant information to the UN.

The Greek Cypriot side did this weeks ago.

"We expect the exchange of information will happen in the coming days," Feissel said, noting that the Turkish Cypriot representative Rustem Tatar is abroad at present for personal reasons.

"We will be ready to exchange information on the location of sites where missing persons are found," the top UN envoy in Cyprus noted.

Asked if the information from the Turkish Cypriot side is in numbers and quality good enough, he replied "if things were not good, we would not have a meeting."

Invited to say if it is comparable to what the Greek side presented the UN, Feissel said "it is ok, otherwise we would not have a meeting."

"We are ready to move, and as soon as Tatar is back we will move," he added.

Speaking on the matter, Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Takis Christopoulos told CNA the information relates to some 400 cases of Greek Cypriot missing and described this development as "a good start."

This is the first phase, he noted, as the two sides are expected to gather additional information about more missing persons.

"Our side continues to work on finding more information about Turkish Cypriot missing," he said.

Replying to questions, Christopoulos said the number and quality of the information handed over is "satisfactory."

He said he would meet Tatar early next week to exchange information and decide jointly what the next steps would be.

A total of 1619 Greek Cypriots and Greek nationals were listed as missing persons after the Turkish invasion of the northern part of Cyprus in 1974.

Turkish Cypriots refer to some 500 people as missing since the 1963 communal clashes.

CNA MM/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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