ARMENIAN-CAPTURED AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER REFUSES TO RETURN TO HOME COUNTRY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 30 2007

Samir Mammadov, Armenian-captured Azerbaijani soldier officially
refused to return to motherland, writing to his parents and said
he wants to be handed over to a third country, the soldier’s uncle
Vidadi Mammadov told the APA. He said International Committee of the
Red Cross office in Berde told him.

"I was told that the representatives of the committee in Armenia met
with Samir on April 27 and Samir said so. But we do not believe it.

Samir can not do it. Armenians lie. It is a pity that representatives
of ICRC in Armenia work under Armenian pressure," the uncle said.

Gulnaz Guliyeva, officer of ICRC office in Baku told the APA that
representatives of ICRC in Armenia met with Samir Mammadov on April
27 for the 16th time and monitored his detention conditions and his
physiological state. Guliyeva said it is impossible to publicize the
meeting taking into account confidentiality.

"International Committee of the Red Cross operates in many
countries without being under any pressure. We deliver all letters
to addressees. A captured soldier has the right to write and refuse
writing. We can not interfere with this right," she said.

Commenting on the soldier’s hand over to a third country, Guliyeva said
that this issue is not under ICRC’s mandate and it can not do that.

The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing
Persons told the APA that they received an official letter from the
ICRC on April 28 which writes that Samir Mammadov refuses returning
to Azerbaijan, writing to his parents and wants to be handed over to
a third country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress