This statement was made by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during a meeting with the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Kathryne Bomberger.
Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the issue of missing persons remains a top priority. He noted that as a result of Armenia’s aggression in the early 1990s, up to 4,000 Azerbaijanis, including civilians, women, and children, lost their lives.
The active role of Azerbaijan’s State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens was highlighted. Since 2023, the commission has been organizing international conferences to raise awareness on this issue. The importance of mobilizing international efforts to address the issue of missing persons was also underscored.
The minister stressed that clarifying the fate of missing persons is crucial not only from the perspective of the rule of law and justice but also for the normalization of post-conflict relations. He emphasized that the role of the international community in this matter is vital.
It was noted that 23 mass graves have been discovered in the territories liberated from occupation. However, the process of locating missing persons remains severely hindered by the persistent landmine threat.
