Arzu Naghiyev says international strategy needed to resolve cases of missing persons

An international strategy is essential for determining the fate of missing persons, a member of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Arzu Naghiyev, said at the international conference themed "Enhancing Cooperation and Advancing Modern Approaches in Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons."

Report quotes him as saying the Azerbaijani people, especially the families of the missing persons, have been forced to live under the impact and suffering of this grave concept since 1988:

"It is necessary that international organizations, especially the UN, develop a well-thought-out and purposeful strategy to prevent cases of people going missing, to prevent the manifestations that cause this, and to determine the fate of missing persons. It is very important to allocate international attention to this area, to promote compliance with international humanitarian law norms, and to apply approaches that meet modern requirements."

The member of the Milli Majlis noted that the Working Group of the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons has been operating for 33 years:

"Given the fact that more than 4,000 of our citizens went missing as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan and that the fate of only 226 of them has been determined in recent years, it is necessary for the Working Group of the State Commission to continue operating for a long time to come. In recent years, the investigation of mass graves discovered in liberated territories, conducting DNA analyses to identify individuals, and the application of modern forensic methods constitute an important part of the work carried out in this area. Social and psychological support measures are also being implemented by the state for the families of missing persons. All of this should be taken into account, and the status of the Working Group of the State Commission, the strengthening of its material-technical base and personnel potential, as well as issues of social welfare and health protection of employees should be reviewed."