Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.7 / Trend, K.Zarbaliyeva /
The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People disseminated information about transferring the bodies of Azerbaijani servicemen killed by Armenian servicemen.
This day, the body of an Armenian, found in the river Tartar June 18, 2010, was transferred to the opposite side. While identifying, it was revealed that this was a 81-year old Gavrush Rustamyan, a villager of Magadis village in Agdere region.
The information said that according to a joint statement of Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia October 27, 2010, and as a result of systematic and fruitful negotiations held by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People, Armenia transferred dead bodies of the Azerbaijani soldiers Mubariz Ibrahimov and Farid Ahmadov to the Azerbaijani side.
The process was conducted smoothly. It was held with the participation of employees of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People, the Defense Ministry and mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Azerbaijani Armed Forces ensign Ibrahimov Mubariz showed heroism in an armed incident at the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops June 18, killing four and wounding four Armenian servicemen. The Armenian side earlier refused to return the Azerbaijani soldier's dead body.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to confer posthumous title of "National Hero" upon Ibrahimov July 22.
Sept.4, Armenian soldiers killed the Azerbaijani officer Farid Ahmadov.
Astrakhan hosted the trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia - Ilham Aliyev, Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan Oct.27. The parties have signed a declaration, which envisages the return of prisoners of war and takes a humanitarian nature with the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the OSCE Minsk Group.
Azerbaijan transferred to Armenia the body of Manvel Saribekyan, who earlier committed suicide, while Armenia liberated Azerbaijani citizen Eldar Tagiyev from captivity.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.