No:096/25, Press release on the meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ceyhun Bayramov and Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons Kathryne Bomberger
10 March 2025 17:21
On 10 March 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ceyhun Bayramov, met with the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons, Kathryne Bomberger.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the issue of Azerbaijanis who went missing during Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan and the occupation of its territories, the current situation regarding the search for and identification of missing persons, as well as efforts in the field of international cooperation.
Minister Ceyhun Bayramov emphasized that the issue of missing persons has always been a top priority, noting that as a result of Armenia’s aggression in the early 1990s, nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis—including civilians, children, and women—went missing.
It was highlighted that since 2023, Azerbaijan has organized international conferences to raise awareness on this issue, and that the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons has played an active role in these efforts.
The importance of mobilizing international efforts to resolve the issue of missing persons was underlined.
The Minister stressed that clarifying the fate of missing persons is crucial not only for the rule of law and justice, but also for the normalization of post-conflict relations, emphasizing the important role of the international community in this matter. It was noted that Azerbaijan has discovered 23 mass graves in the territories liberated from occupation to date. At the same time, it was pointed out that the mine threat seriously hinders the process of locating missing persons.
During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
