asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are still 1,681 people missing and unaccounted for as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus 13 years ago; if he will seek information from the Turkish Government regarding the whereabouts and well-being of these people and the reason they are not released; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Invasion of Cyprus.
13.
I am aware that a very large number of people from both communities in Cyprus are still missing as a result of events in that country in the 1960s and 1970s. A special United Nations Committee, consisting of representatives of each community and of the Red Cross, has been trying since 1981 to investigate what happened to those people. The situation is a very tragic one but the fact that there was agreement to set up such a committee showed some willingness to deal with the matter on a humanitarian basis. This committee is in the best position to get information about those who are missing. I strongly support the work of the UN Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and call on everybody in a position to do so to co-operate fully with it in trying to resolve this tragic problem but I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a direct approach from me to any of the parties involved.