Azeri Officials, Red Cross Head Discuss Ties, POWs

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.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS