The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons held a meeting on the outcomes of the activity in 2011, press service of the National Security Ministry said.
Addressing the meeting, chairman of the State Commission Eldar Mahmudov said it causes concern that the humanitarian problem continues as the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has not been solved. In this regard, every step taken by the State Commission is useful for the general work.
Chairman Eldar Mahmudov said the tasks arising from the "Framework agreement on collection and centralized management of ante mortem data about the missing persons" between the State Commission and the International Committee of the Red Cross were discussed during the meetings with the representatives of the said organization. Finally, it was offered to take blood samples from the close relatives of the missing persons and create a blood bank. With the view of storing the unidentified bone remains in the manner accepted in the international world, it was considered necessary to establish a special center having a laboratory meeting modern standards. The President of Azerbaijan was appealed concerning the issue and the head of state gave certain instructions to the Cabinet of Ministers. It is planned to establish the new center under the Forensic Medical Examination and Pathological Anatomy Union of the Health Ministry. The State Commission`s Working Group started determining the whereabouts of the unidentified martyrs' graves and registering them.
The head of the Working Group Firudin Sadigov made a report on the activity of the State Commission in 2011.
It was noted that the State Commission enhanced international relations, strengthened measures for searching the missing persons. The elimination of the differences in the missing persons lists, cooperation were discussed at the meetings with the ICRC representatives. Talks were held for the release of the Azerbaijani and Armenian captives and hostages. As of December 1, 2011, 4046 missing persons, 1400 released captives and hostages were registered at the State Commission.
1053 questionnaires regarding 663 people were sent to the government agencies and international organizations with the view of specifying the commission`s data and searching the missing persons. Extra data about 1500 missing persons were added to their search files. The responses to the questionnaires concerning 230 people registered as missing at the State Commission and International Committee of the Red Cross were analyzed and added to relevant bases.
The applications sent by the parents of 51 citizens to President, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, chairman of the State Commission and other government agencies were considered, the Presidential Administration, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, other relevant agencies and citizens were informed about the work done. 84 questionnaires sent by various government agencies and international organizations concerning the missing persons and released captives were fulfilled.
Secretary of the Commission Shahin Sayilov gave detailed information about the discussions held concerning the problem in international events - scientific conferences, seminars and symposiums in accordance with the recommendations of President Ilham Aliyev regarding the attack tactics in the information struggle on Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It was noted that special attention was paid to the dissemination of the materials prepared by the Commission in foreign countries, totally 1500 copies of the materials of the State Commission, more than 3000 books (24 kinds) in 13 languages, 6500 books (12 kinds), films, CDs describing the photo facts, documentary films exposing Armenian terrorism were prepared and disseminated. During the visits to foreign countries and the meetings held in Azerbaijan Chairman and members of the State Commission informed the state figures, representatives of the international organizations, outstanding persons, political analysts about the crimes committed as a result of Armenia`s aggression against Azerbaijan, violation of the norms of the international humanitarian law with regard to captives and hostages.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commission members Khalaf Khalafov, Oruj Zalov, Khanlar Valiyev, Gular Ahmadova, Yagub Mahmudov, Bekir Nabiyev, Ismayil Omarov, as well as department chief of the National Security Ministry Farhad Vahabov and others noted that the Commission`s activity is satisfactory, the work done by the Commission is of great importance and the international community takes interest in this. It was noted that efforts should be increased to fulfill President Ilham Aliyev`s instructions for informing the world community about truth on Nagorno Karabakh, the only problem of Azerbaijan.
Appropriate decisions were passed at the meeting.

AzerTAc