The state remains irrevocably committed to ascertaining the fate of every missing person, to restoring historical truth and to preserving collective memory, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, said on Sunday.

In his memorial speech at the annual religious memorial service for the soldiers and citizens of the Municipal District of Livadia, who lost their lives during the tragic events of 1974 and 1963-64, Vafeades said that "today's ceremony concerns the past, concerns the present, and concerns the future and reminds us that the wounds of the invasion remain open. That the occupation of 37% of our homeland, in addition to being a national issue, constitutes a daily reality for those searching for their own people, for those who were uprooted, for those who are still waiting for justice."

As a State, he stated, "we remain unwaveringly committed to ascertaining the fate of every missing person, to restoring historical truth and to preserving collective memory. The political leadership of the country is working systematically for the reunification of Cyprus, for a solution based on UN Resolutions and European Union principles, which will end the occupation and division, ensuring the human rights of all Cypriots."

Concluding, Vafeades noted that "with faith and unity, we move forward in the hope that the vision of reunification will not remain forever unrealized."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

According to statistical data published on the CMP website by July 31, 2025 out of 2002 missing persons 1,707 were exhumed and 1,055 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 759 were identified and 751 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 296 were identified and 196 are still missing.