Nicosia, 26th July 2023  - The UNDP and the Republic of Cyprus signed a 175,000 Euro contribution agreement project support to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, for the year 2023. This contribution will complement a larger EU funded and UNDP implemented programme of support to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus .

The agreement has been formalized during a signing ceremony attended by esteemed representatives, including Mr. Jakhongir Khaydarov, Head of Office of UNDP Cyprus, Mr. Charalambos Charalambous, Director of the President’s Office of the Republic of Cyprus, Mrs. Anna Aristotelous, Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Mr. Leonidas Pantelides, Greek Cypriot Member of CMP. 

Mr Khaydarov stated that "We are committed to strengthening reconciliation efforts and restoring trust between communities. Recovering missing persons' remains is crucial for healing not only the victims' families but also the entire Cypriot society. Together, we embrace the positive momentum to build a brighter and compassionate future."
The contributions by the Republic of Cyprus have exceeded 3.5million for the support to the CMP, complementing larger EU funded donation projects on similar targets. Up to date, the remains of 1,033 missing persons have been identified (51%).

The CMP project on the exhumation, identification, and return of remains of missing persons is a bi-communal undertaking, whereby the process is carried out by a bi-communal team of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot scientists and has resulted in international recognition of the CMP as an example of cooperation between the two Cypriot communities. CMP has three Members, two appointed respectively by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and a third Member selected by the International Committee of the Red Cross and appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General.

The European Union is the main donor for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus, with a total contribution of €33.3 million to date. 

For further information and media enquiries please contact UNDP at: 

Gulten Inan, Communications Assistant
E-mail: gulten.inan@undp.org
Tel: +357 99 061560/+905488684603 

Eleni Panayiotou, Communications Associate
E-mail: eleni.panayiotou@undp.org
Tel: +35799368879/+905488684602 

European Union 

The Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, based on Council Regulation 389/2006, aims at facilitating the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island, on improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU, and on preparation for the EU body of laws (also referred to as acquis communautaire).

For more information please visit: 
Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community (europa.eu)

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United Nations Development Programme

UNDP aims to contribute and support the peace-building process in Cyprus and to enhance 
cooperation between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriot by implementing a range of 
confidence building measures.

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