Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Anthony D Wright (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Cyprus

Question: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. I am sure that there are hundreds of Greek Cypriots in my constituency who will welcome the talks continuing. However, one thing to be regarded as a success in Cyprus is the Committee on Missing Persons, which is bi-communal. It has been supported by significant funding from across the international community, and has been hugely successful—indeed, only last year one of my constituents, Andrew Michael, was able to find closure when he went to the island to bury his father, who had been missing. Will my hon. Friend the Minister give me an assurance that the funding for this important project—from both the UK and the international community—will continue?

Answer: I visited Cyprus last year. When I was there, I met the people who run the Committee on Missing Persons. The important forensic work that they do is very moving, and my hon. Friend is right to say that it gives people an opportunity to find closure through knowing what happened many years ago. I am aware of the significant financial needs that committee members think that they will have in the next couple of years. We will work with them to make sure that those needs are met.

Secondary information