UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the confirmation by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mustafa Akıncı that the Republic of Turkey has formally agreed to provide the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) excavation teams access to 30 suspected burial sites in military areas in the north of Cyprus, a Spokesman for the Secretary General has said in a statement.
He noted that the Secretary-General is encouraged by the steps being taken to build trust and confidence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities as the two sides have begun intensified talks this month.
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus,” he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
CNA/AZ/MK/GV/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY