Secretary-General Welcomes Confirmation that Committee on Missing Persons Excavation Teams Will Have Access to Suspected North Cyprus Burial Sites

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the confirmation by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mustafa Akıncı, that the Committee on Missing Persons excavation teams will have access to 30 suspected burial sites in military areas in the north of Cyprus.

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the steps being taken to build trust and confidence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities as the two sides have begun intensified talks this month.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.