President Ersin Tatar’s Special Representative, Ergün Olgun, responded to the allegations made by the Greek Cypriot government spokesperson, who claimed that they did not hinder the excavation planned to be initiated at the Atlılar mass grave.

“If the Greek Cypriot side is genuinely not obstructing them, then excavation work at the Atlılar mass grave, which has been delayed for years and for which an agreement was reached last January, can start without any delay on Monday, June 12. After that, our President and the Greek Cypriot leader can visit the Anthropology Laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons and make a joint statement, calling for support for the important humanitarian work of the Committee on Missing Persons” Olgun said in a statement.

Stating that the two leaders can call on those who have information about the missing persons to provide it to the relevant authorities without further delay, he stressed the need to avoid politicizing this humanitarian issue.

Olgun added that both leaders could express their determination to make maximum efforts to locate all the missing persons.

He said that this step will bring “new momentum” to the work of the Committee on Missing Persons.

“The root cause of the deadlock in the Cyprus negotiations process is the Greek Cypriot side acting as the sole owner of the island and not respecting its equal inherent right of the Turkish Cypriot side, which is also recognized by agreements. As repeatedly expressed, negotiations can begin the day after the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot side, in parallel with the rights and status exercised/possessed by the Greek Cypriot side as a result of the Turkish Cypriot side’s equality requirement” Olgun stressed.