Decades on, remains of 6 Greek soldiers returned to families

NICOSIA, Cyprus – More than four decades on, the families of six Greek soldiers who were either killed or had disappeared during Cyprus’ tumultuous past have been given some measure of closure after receiving their remains.

Relatives attended a brief military ceremony Monday at Cyprus’ National Guard headquarters where they received the remains in six small, flag-draped coffins which will be flown to Greece aboard a military transport aircraft.

Some of the soldiers had gone missing during fighting between the island nations’ Greek and Turkish communities in the 1960s, while others vanished during Turkey’s 1974 invasion that followed a coup aiming at union with Greece.

Some 77 Greek nationals are listed as missing in action. The remains of 14 Greeks have so far been identified.