DERYNIA: The funeral of the hero Panagiotis Xanthou was held (IMAGES)

DSC 5509 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

The funeral of the hero of the Turkish invasion 27, Panagiotis Xanthos, from Agastina Famagusta, a former resident of Trachos, was held in the presence of a large crowd, last Sunday, January 11, at 1974 am, from the Church of the Apostle Barnabas, in Deryneia.

DSC 5388 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

The bones of Panagiotis Xanthos were found in a mass grave in the village of Agastina and were identified by DNA method.

DSC 5507 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

The Government was represented by the Presidency Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Overseas Affairs, Fotis Fotiou.

DSC 5402 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

Panagiotis Xanthou

Panagiotis Xanthou was born in 1938 in Trachoni, Kythrea. According to the Commission of Inquiry into the Missing, he was last seen on August 21, 1974. He was married with 3 children. His bones were found in a mass grave in Agastina and identified by DNA.

DSC 5453 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

Fotis Fotiou: In 2018, bones belonging to only 10 people were identified

The dangers in view of the stagnation that prevails in the field of locating relics in the occupied areas were mentioned by the Commissioner of the Presidency, Fotis Fotiou, noting that in 2018, bones were found that refer to only about 10 people while more than 830 are still missing.

DSC 5742 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

Mr. Fotiou spoke on Sunday at the funeral of Panagiotis Xanthos, in the church of Apostolos Barnabas, in the settlement of Deryneia, whose few bones were found in the period 2013-2014 in a mass grave in the area of ​​Agastina.

DSC 5738 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

"It is tragic that efforts to provide answers to families tested for so many decades for the fate of their loved ones have unfortunately reached a critical juncture," he said.

DSC 5546 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

The dangers, continued the Presidential Commissioner, "are now visible in view of the stagnation that prevails in the field of locating relics in the occupied areas".

DSC 5542 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

This is indicated by the data of the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons, he said, adding that "in 2018, bones were found that refer to only about 10 people, at a time when more than 830 cases of our missing are still missing."

DSC 5519 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

"Without a substantial change in Turkey's policy, the tragedy and pain experienced by families will continue," he said.

DSC 5512 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

Mr. Fotiou assured that "from our side we will continue our honest and sacred struggle in cooperation with the relatives of the missing to clarify the fate and the last case of our missing". For us and for the families, he said, "it does not mean nor do we accept that the delivery of some small bones, as in the case of Panagiotis, is a complete and documented clarification of his fate."

DSC 5500 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5474 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5412 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5403 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5389 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5337 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani
DSC 5332 exclusive, Missing Persons, Funeral of the Missing, Nea Famagusta, Fotis Fotiou
© Anna Tziovani

Famagusta.News / IMAGES: Anna Tziovani