The work of the Conference for the European Semester 2017 and the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union (EU) continues and is completed today in Brussels.
On the sidelines of the Conferences, MP Skevi Koutra - Koukouma, in her capacity as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, Trapped, Missing and Suffered, met with the newly appointed Permanent Rapporteur of the Committee on Civil Liberties (EU) EC) Juan Fernando López Aguilar (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EC, Spain) to monitor the issue of missing persons in Cyprus. The meeting was also attended by the Cypriot MEP Mr. Neoklis Silikiotis.
During the meeting, Ms. Koukouma welcomed the appointment of Mr. Aguilar, who replied that it was an honor for the event itself and also mentioned that he had previously visited Cyprus and the Anthropological Laboratory under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council. in his capacity as Chairman of the LIBE Commission. Afterwards, Ms. Koukouma gave a thorough briefing on the latest developments in the issue of missing persons in Cyprus and praised the important work carried out by the Commission of Inquiry into the Missing (CMP). He also referred to the serious obstacles that hinder the work of the CMP, noting that the main thing is Turkey's refusal to cooperate, providing access to information through its military archives and allowing searches in so-called military zones where there are also landfills.
Mr. Aguilar asked to be informed about the procedures followed to determine the fate of the missing and the identification of their remains. He also showed particular interest in the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the prospects for the reunification of the island. Ms. Koukouma briefed him on this, referring in particular to Turkish efforts to cover up the crimes committed in Cyprus during and after the Turkish invasion of 1974, by moving remains from one location to another, with the ultimate goal of concealing evidence of mass graves. and therefore covering up Turkey's guilt for these crimes. He also pointed out the limited reference to the missing in Cyprus in the context of the Progress Reports prepared annually by the European Commission for Turkey.
Ms. Koukouma extended an invitation to Mr. Aguilar for a working visit to Cyprus. The invitation was accepted. Mr Aguilar emphasized that political will was needed to ensure a positive outcome for the missing persons.
SotiraNews