ArmInfo. The issue of the return of prisoners of war was one of the key issues on the agenda of the talks with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar. This was stated by the Foreign Minister of Artsakh David Babayan in an interview with journalists in Yerevan on April 15.
"This is one of the most important issues. We always raise this issue at all meetings. We expressed our concern, and presented the real situation of prisoners of war and hostages in general. Azerbaijan does not provide an exact figure. This means that there are some tasks and programs, and it is possible that they are criminal. Therefore, the international community should have more opportunities to discuss and resolve the issue, " the chief diplomat of Artsakh said.
When asked what to do, because the Azerbaijani side claims that they have no prisoners of war, and the Armenians held in Azerbaijan are "terrorists", Babayan stated that it is necessary to knock on all the doors. At the same time, he added that there is data, but in order to have 100% facts, the international community must carry out monitoring.
"Some believe that Azerbaijan is engaged in organ trafficking. To know for sure, the international community must fit in. After the first war - and I say this with 100% confidence-the Azerbaijanis registered Armenian prisoners and hostages under Azerbaijani names and kept them in prisons. The international community could not identify them through monitoring. And who knows, maybe even now? But the fact is that there may be more prisoners than Azerbaijan recognizes. And what right do they have to call them terrorists? Do you remember the three terrorists in Artsakh? One was destroyed, and two others were subjected to an open, transparent trial involving representatives of international organizations and the media. It has been proven that they are terrorists and criminals. And there is nothing like that here, " the minister said.
In general, assessing the meeting with the EU Special Representative, Babayan noted its importance. "This institution is very important. Our meeting, we can say, was the first - for me in this status. The meeting is very important because what happened to us is an important issue, a challenge for the international community. We discussed various issues. I will not give an assessment now. What conclusions and consequences, time will tell. But we must work, use all channels to get out of this situation," he said. Meanwhile, when asked whether Artsakh expects financial assistance from the EU to solve urgent humanitarian challenges, Babayan noted that time will tell.