The collection of DNA samples from relatives of eleven Greek soldiers who went missing in Cyprus in 1974 has been completed, Presidential Commissioner Marios Hartsiotis announced, according to the Greek Cypriot newspaper Haravgi.
Hartsiotis said the sampling paves the way for efforts to identify the soldiers, as genetic material from the families can now be compared against any remains that are recovered.
The commissioner also gave an update on the overall number of Greek nationals listed as missing from 1974. Of the 77 missing Greeks, 40 have so far been identified, while the remaining cases are still unresolved, he said.
The fate of those who disappeared in 1974 remains a long-standing humanitarian issue on the island. With the DNA collection now complete, work on identifying the remaining Greek soldiers is expected to move forward.
