ARMENIAN TAKEN CAPTIVE, TO BE REPATRIATED – AZERI PAPER

Ekspress, Baku
8 Mar 06

Text of Alakbar’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 8
March headlined “The Armenian serviceman has been captured by the
Azerbaijani side” and subheaded “Yerevan is concealing it”.

The Azerbaijani side has taken captive an Armenian serviceman.

Ekspress has learnt from informed sources that Vardan Saakyan, 20,
from [Armenia’s] Sisyan [District] was captured by the Azerbaijani
side in unknown circumstances.

The head of a working group of the State Committee on Captives,
Missing Persons and Hostages, Firudin Sadiqov, told Ekspress that
negotiations are under way and necessary procedures are being
considered to repatriate the Armenian captive.

Interestingly, Armenia’s official agencies have not reported Saakyan’s
capture. In any case, there has been no press reports on this in
Armenia.