I am delighted that we are able to support the important work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) with our contribution. During my visit to Cyprus in September 2014, I was very impressed by the dedicated work done by the organisation.

The CMP’s task is to find the mortal remains of persons missing as a result of the fighting and displacement in 1963/64 and 1974, to exhume them – some from mass graves – and to identify them through DNA analysis. This work is of inestimable importance to the many families who have had to endure the terrible uncertainty about the fate of their relatives for such a long time. Handing over the mortal remains to their families and the subsequent burial can help bring to an end a protracted and painful mourning process. Our financial contribution will help to establish the fate of more individuals.

Germany actively advocates a solution to the Cyprus conflict which is acceptable to both sides. The CMP occupies an exemplary role in the reconciliation process between the island’s two communities and is also helping to foster conflict management and crisis prevention. As the United Nations has stressed time and again, it is an effective confidence‑building measure, which will help advance the negotiations on the Cyprus question.

Following allocations in 2005 and 2008, this is the third time that we have provided the CMP with funds. By doing this, the German Government is emphasising that an end to Cyprus' division remains one of the main focuses of Germany’s policy on Europe and is making a visible and sustainable contribution towards the political dialogue in Cyprus.