ICRC representatives say they will continue cooperation with Baku – Armenian MFA

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), during meetings with officials from Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated that they will continue cooperation with Azerbaijan, the press office of Armenia’s MFA said in response to a written inquiry from NEWS. am.

Given that the ICRC suspended its activities in Azerbaijan in September at the request of local authorities and that the peace agreement initialed by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan does not include a clause on the return of prisoners of war, NEWS. am addressed several questions to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
These included whether steps are being taken to protect Armenian detainees held in Baku from physical torture, whether ICRC staff attempted to obtain information about their condition after visits ceased, whether contact with families was maintained during this time, and whether any other organization is able to deliver parcels to them.

“In response to the inquiry, ICRC representatives stated that their last visit to Armenian prisoners was in June. The issue of illegally detained Armenian prisoners of war and hostages in Azerbaijan, including concerns about their health, remains a priority for the Armenian MFA. This issue is regularly raised in meetings with international partners, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The Armenian MFA also holds regular meetings with relatives of detainees and missing persons, as well as with various international organizations, including the ICRC delegation.

ICRC representatives stated that they will continue cooperation with Azerbaijan to assist persons protected by international humanitarian law,” the statement reads.