Members of the Family Associations of the Relatives of the Missing visit the CMP Anthropological Laboratory
Release Date: Jul 24, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
(Nicosia, 24 July 2008) – The Anthropological Laboratory of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) was visited this morning by representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot family associations of relatives of missing persons.
The representatives of the family associations were welcomed by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Members of the CMP and given a tour of the laboratory facilities. They met with members of the bi-communal team of scientists working on the anthropological and osteological analysis of remains transferred to the laboratory from exhumation sites on both sides of the buffer zone.
The family associations went on to visit the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) where they were briefed about DNA identification by the bi-communal team of geneticists. The CING was contracted by the CMP in April 2007 to implement the Genetics Phase of its project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus by using DNA methodologies. It was significant that this visit by the family associations should take place jointly, given the intrinsically bi-communal character of the CMP project on the Exhumation, Identification and Return of Remains.
The members of the family associations were deeply moved and thanked the scientists for their work. They also expressed the hope that this humanitarian project will be continued and strengthened through the support of all concerned.