On June 30, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Kathryne Bomberger, who is on a visit to our country.
According to the information provided to “Elchi” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and the ICMP, activities carried out in the post-conflict period to determine the fate of missing persons, as well as the importance of international cooperation in this field were discussed during the meeting.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that the fate of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis remains unknown to this day as a result of Armenia’s military aggression, and emphasized that the issue of missing persons is one of the priority humanitarian directions for Azerbaijan. In this context, it was stated that the full provision of existing information by the Armenian side regarding the locations of mass graves, burial facts, and mine maps is of great importance for determining the fate of missing persons.
Emphasizing the special importance of the provision on the issue of missing persons in the draft Agreement on the establishment of peace and interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the parties noted the necessity of practical steps to build confidence and eliminate humanitarian consequences in this direction.
At the meeting, the useful partnership formed between the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons and the International Commission on Missing Persons was highly appreciated, and it was emphasized that this cooperation is of great importance in terms of determining the fate of missing persons, strengthening identification capabilities, and applying international experience.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that the Azerbaijani side, remaining committed to its humanitarian obligations after the 44-day Patriotic War, has carried out large-scale search operations despite the complex security situation and mine threat, and has handed over the bodies of more than 2,000 Armenian soldiers discovered to the other side. This step was assessed as a clear example of Azerbaijan’s respect for international humanitarian law and its constructive approach to humanitarian issues.
Information was provided at the meeting about mass graves discovered in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, exhumation and identification works, as well as measures taken by relevant state institutions.
The parties also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest and the directions of the ICMP’s activities in other countries.
