BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. The first day of the international conference on "Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons: Upholding Families’ Right to Know the Truth" has concluded in Baku, Trend reports.
The event began with the address of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the conference, which was read out by the Head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons, Ali Naghiyev.
The event was also attended by Florence Anselmo, Head of the Central Search Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Fariz Rzayev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services of Türkiye Zafer Tarikdaroglu, and other officials.
Naghiyev said that according to the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons of Azerbaijan, as of October 1, 2024, the number of individuals reported missing due to Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan stands at 3,979.
The official noted that 3,973 of these individuals went missing during the First Karabakh War, while six people disappeared during the Second Karabakh War.
He emphasized that uncovering burial sites in territories liberated from Armenian occupation following the Second Karabakh War and local anti-terrorist measures, as well as conducting essential excavations and exhumations to ascertain the fate of missing citizens, is a critical priority set by President Ilham Aliyev for the State Commission.
"Armenian field commanders have information regarding the burial locations of Azerbaijanis who went missing on their side. For nearly 30 years, these territories were held under occupation by Armenia, which also took Azerbaijani citizens as captives and hostages. Despite efforts to communicate this issue through international organizations, the official government of Yerevan has yet to provide Azerbaijan with the necessary information," he added.
Further, Naghiyev pointed out that excavations and monitoring by the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan this year in liberated territories revealed that, from the signing of the trilateral statement until the Azerbaijani Armed Forces' local anti-terrorist measures in September 2023 in Karabakh, the separatist regime systematically destroyed several mass graves recognized by the State Commission and the ICRC.
Naghiyev noted that the burial sites in Garadaghli village of Khojavand district, Dehraz village of Khojaly district, and Sirkhavand village of Aghdara district known to the State Commission can be cited as examples.
“It is known that these and other mass graves were purposefully destroyed to hide the traces of war crimes committed by Armenia.
These facts are a vivid example of disrespect for international law, as well as for the families of missing persons who have been waiting for years for their loved ones, and humanity as a whole,” he added.
Rzayev said that despite the high risk of landmine incidents, Azerbaijan has returned remains of up to 2,000 bodies to Armenia.
He emphasized the importance of incorporating humanitarian elements into peace negotiations.
"The uncertainty surrounding the fate of the missing can hinder reconciliation and lasting peace.
Within a short period after the 44-day Second Karabakh War, 18 mass graves were discovered in the territories liberated by Azerbaijan. The remains found in these areas were buried under inhumane conditions. The Azerbaijani government is taking necessary steps to clarify the fate of the missing persons," he added.
The event will carry on tomorrow in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.
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