Italian MPs call on government to assist release of Armenian POWs  from Azerbaijani captivity

ArmInfo. As Azerbaijan is preparing to host the COP29 climate conference, a group of Italian  parliamentarians calls for release of Armenian prisoners, Tempi reports.  

The statement reads:

Considering that Italy has excellent commercial and political  relations with Baku and maintains a fruitful collaboration also in  the energy field, which places us among the very first European  partners of Azerbaijan;  

Considering that it is in Italy's interest that the South Caucasus  area be peacefully stabilized and therefore all actions that promote  an increase in trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the signing  of a definitive peace agreement be encouraged;

Noting that, following the recent conflicts, 23 Armenian prisoners of  war and other detainees whose families have long been waiting for  their return home are still being held in Baku for various reasons;  Considering that their release would represent a positive signal in  the relations between the two countries and would have further  positive repercussions on the entire regional area and on COP29  itself; the undersigned, deputies and senators of the Italian  Republic ask the Government

- to raise awareness among the Azerbaijani partner so that, in  conjunction with the COP29 event, it proceeds, as a gesture of  goodwill and as a sign of friendship with Italy, to the release of  all Armenian prisoners and detainees;

- to arrange, if necessary also with their own means, their return  home;

- to communicate to Armenia and Azerbaijan Italy's commitment to  reaching a definitive peace agreement in the region.