AZERI OFFICIALS, RED CROSS HEAD DISCUSS TIES, POWS

Sources:

MPA news agency, Baku 4 Apr 06
Azartac news agency, Baku 4 Apr 06

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will continue to
cooperate with the Azerbaijani authorities, Azerbaijani news agency
MPA quoted ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger as saying at a meeting
with Defence Minister Safar Abiyev on 4 April.

National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov, who is also the chairman
of the state commission for POWs, missing people and hostages, met
Kellenberger on the same day, state-run news agency Azartac said.

Mahmudov said that out of 4,617 missing Azerbaijanis, 783 were taken
captive and hostage and are being held in Armenia and Azerbaijan’s
occupied region of Nagornyy Karabakh. Eight Azerbaijanis and 10
Armenians have been freed from captivity through the ICRC in the past
two years, the minister added.

In a separate report, MPA said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and Jakob Kellenberger discussed the situation of refugees and IDPs
in the country.