Nicosia, Cyprus. Excavations by the Committee on Missing Persons are continuing at multiple sites, and two people have been identified this year, Turkish Cypriot committee member Haki Muftuzade said on Monday.
Excavations ongoing at eight locations
The CMP is currently conducting excavations at eight locations, while additional recovery operations were completed earlier this year. Muftuzade said that since the beginning of the year, 26 excavations have taken place and two additional missing persons were identified following the recovery of remains.
Active excavation sites include Dali, Lapithos, Karavas, Exometochi, Yalateia, Ambelikou, Petra and the north of Nicosia.
Identifications from previous recoveries
Muftuzade said remains recovered in earlier excavations in the Tekke gardens behind Kyrenia avenue in the northern quarter of Nicosia have now been identified, with five of seven sets of remains confirmed through DNA analysis.
One of the most recent identifications was Hussein Mestan, whose burial took place in Ambelikou earlier this month.
Work in military zones and budget
Muftuzade said a significant portion of past excavations has taken place in areas classified as military zones, with access restrictions continuing to affect search operations.
He said a total of 205 remains have been discovered in excavations in military areas, and 127 excavations have been carried out in such restricted zones to date.
He also outlined the CMP’s financial framework for this year, saying the annual budget stands at €3.9 million, supported mainly by the EU and contributions from international donors.