Release of all prisoners, cooperation on fate of missing persons ‘decisive elements’ for peace – EU envoy on Armenia-Azerbaijan

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. The release of all prisoners, cooperation on the fate of missing persons and on demining efforts are “decisive elements” for lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia has said.

“To me the entire normalisation process is about people and therefore about humanitarian affairs,” Klaar told JAMnews. “However, if you mean the specific question of prisoners and missing persons, then these are of course key elements as well,” he said when asked on the importance of humanitarian affairs for lasting peace up to this point.

“One of the most moving experiences during my time as EUSR has been the release of ten Armenian soldiers from Azerbaijani captivity at the end of 2021. I felt honoured that the EU could assist at that time and that I personally could accompany those former prisoners when they were re-patriated from Baku to Yerevan on 19 December 2021. I am deeply convinced that the release of all prisoners, good and effective cooperation from all sides on the fate of missing persons as well as on demining efforts are decisive elements for lasting peace and for definitely turning the page of enmity and violence. And it makes me personally sad that we still did not really manage to advance further on those issues. I am certain that this will remain a key issue for my successor,” Klaar said. Serving in his current role since November 2017, Klaar will transition to a new position on September 1, 2024, as the EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

55 Armenians are held captive in Azerbaijan but the Aliyev administration has only acknowledged 23 of them, according to a senior Armenian law enforcement official.