Baku:The 4th International Conference in the Baku Dialogue format on 'Strengthening Trust and Developing Effective Mechanisms in Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons' has commenced at the Gulustan Palace. The event is organized by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the conference has gathered former heads of state and government, senior officials of international organizations and foreign countries, heads of institutions dealing with missing persons, experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations, human rights specialists, as well as ambassadors, military attachés, and other representatives of foreign countries accredited in Azerbaijan.

Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, Chief of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, read out an address by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the participants.

One of the key aspects of this year's discussions is the establishment and strengthening of trust between the parties. Experience indicates that meaningful progress in determining the fate of missing persons is unattainable without cooperation, transparency, and the timely provision of accurate information.

The conference will pay special attention to the importance of providing comprehensive information on missing persons, including details on mass and individual burial sites. It will also consider the potential for joint humanitarian work between conflicting parties to locate, recover, and identify missing individuals.

Furthermore, the conference aims to move beyond discussion, contributing to practical and sustainable mechanisms that can enhance cooperation, protect the right of families to know, facilitate the exchange of relevant information, and expand the use of modern forensic, DNA, and technological solutions.