BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. Despite the high risk of landmine incidents, Azerbaijan has returned remains of up to 2,000 bodies to Armenia, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev said at an international conference in Baku titled "Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons: Upholding Families’ Right to Know the Truth," Trend reports.
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.
Baku is hosting an international conference on “Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons: Upholding Families’ Right to Know the Truth”.
The event started with an address by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the conference, which was read out by Ali Naghiyev, Head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens.
Head of the Central Search Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Florence Anselmo, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye Zafer Tarikdaroglu, and other officials are also taking part in the event.
The event is taking place today in Baku and will continue tomorrow in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.