ICRC DELEGATION IN AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER
APA
March 31 2010
Azerbaijan
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. Delegation of the International Committee
of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan announced its action principles,
ICRC Delegation told APA.
"The ICRC would like to bring to the attention of the general public
that erroneous reporting can have a negative impact both on the
detainees and on their families’ members. The ICRC always prefers to
deliver and discuss private information related to detained people
only with their family members or relevant authority representatives
from both sides and not subject those deprived of freedom to
public scrutiny. In accordance with its mandate based on the Geneva
Conventions, the ICRC visits persons detained in relation to conflict
situations worldwide and has a long experience in this field. Since
1992, the ICRC has been visiting people who are detained in connection
with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict. The aims and procedures of
these visits are strictly humanitarian. By registering detainees
and repeating visits the ICRC assesses their detention conditions
and treatment until their release. Delegates talk to detainees in
private, as well as visit premises and discuss their findings with
the detaining authorities in a confidential manner. The ICRC makes
the necessary recommendations when needed", said the ICRC Delegation.
ICRC delegation said they offered detainees the opportunity to write
messages, known as "Red Cross Messages" (RCM) to their families.
"Designed exclusively for exchanging personal greetings and family
news, these messages provide vital moral support for prisoners and
their families as this is often the only means for them to keep in
touch. It should be noted that RCMs are subject to censorship and can
be returned to a detainee or his/her family, if the content of a RCM
goes beyond strictly family news. The ICRC can not force a detained
person to write or receive an RCM if it is not so wished".
When the relevant authorities decide to release a detained person, the
ICRC, if requested, supports authorities in the practical arrangements
necessary to repatriate or transfer such a person, said the ICRC
Delegation. "The ICRC is not involved in the process of negotiations
on possible transfer or repatriation of persons detained in relation
to a conflict. However, before agreeing to assist in repatriation or
transfer, the ICRC always ensures by means of a private interview with
the detained person concerned that he or she wishes to be sent home.
Since 1992, the ICRC has helped repatriate or transfer persons in
connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and the organization
will support any similar operation in the future should the need
arise".
During the meeting with Pascal Wagner, the head of ICRC for Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, Elmira Suleymanova, Commissioner for Human
Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan said that despite
long time has passed since soldiers of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
Rafig Rahman oglu Hasanov (October 8, 2008), Anar Khanbaba Hajiyev
(May 10, 2009) and civilian Eldar Haydar Tagiev (December 28, 2009)
were taken captives, they are still in the Armenian captivity.
The Commissioner also appealed the Baku office of the ICRC on the
basis of complaints of parents and relatives of the POWs. She said
sometimes local representation of ICRC censors, exerts pressure on
parents with regard to correspondence of captives and hostages from
Azerbaijan and added that it was a violation of rights.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
