Azerbaijan urges ICRC to aid handover of soldiers’ bodies
BAKU – Azerbaijan's defense minister has discussed with a senior International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official repatriation of the dead bodies of the two servicemen held by Armenia.
Safar Abiyev focused on the issue at a meeting with Pascale Meige Wagner, ICRC head of operations for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said.
Abiyev said a great need has emerged for the ICRC to step up its efforts and to deal more closely with the issue of war victims.
The two South Caucasus republics fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994. Sporadic clashes on the frontline continue. Armenia currently holds two Azerbaijani prisoners, one hostage and two dead bodies, while six Armenian servicemen and five civilians are held on the Azerbaijani side.
The two Azerbaijani servicemen - Mubariz Ibrahimov, 22, and Farid Ahmadov, 24 - were killed on the contact line separating the two countries’ troops in June and September while repelling Armenian attacks. The Armenian side has not yet returned their bodies.
Armenia still occupies part of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory. Peace talks have been largely fruitless so far.
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