REPATRIATION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ICRC
Baku/Azerbaijan (ICRC) - On Thursday, 29 August 2002, two prisoners
of war (POW), one Azerbaijani military serviceman and one Armenian military
serviceman were repatriated to their countries of origin under the auspices
of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The operation took place
at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Tavush / Gazakh region.
Further to the request from the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
the Republic of Armenia, the ICRC acting as a neutral intermediary, and in accordance
with its mandate, facilitated the repatriation of the 2 POWs. ICRC delegates
based in Baku and Yerevan, who had regularly visited the two men while they
were in captivity, spoke privately with each of them. Both expressed their wish
to return to their home countries. The operation went ahead with the full cooperation
of the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities.
In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC has assisted the concerned authorities
in organizing such repatriations in the region since 1992.
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