Baku:President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, addressed participants of the Fourth International Conference as part of the Baku Dialogue on missing persons, emphasizing the importance of resolving this humanitarian issue.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, President Aliyev underscored that despite the end of the conflict, determining the fate of missing persons remains a critical challenge for Azerbaijan. The Baku Dialogue, initiated by Azerbaijan, serves as a key platform for collaboration among states, international organizations, and experts focused on this issue.

The president highlighted the historic opportunity for lasting peace in the South Caucasus following the Joint Declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia signed in 2025, along with the peace treaty initialing. He stressed that achieving peace requires not only political agreements but also addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict, including the fate of missing persons.

Aliyev noted that 4,010 Azerbaijanis have been recorded as missing due to Armenia's military aggression, and criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross for its lack of results. He announced that 32 mass graves have been found in liberated territories, with examinations revealing evidence of torture.

He called for Armenia to provide information on missing Azerbaijanis and burial sites, emphasizing that such transparency is crucial for peace and trust-building. Aliyev also encouraged further international efforts through the UN and other organizations to aid in locating missing persons.

The president expressed Azerbaijan's readiness to support joint initiatives and proposed establishing a special mechanism on missing persons within the UN framework. He concluded by wishing success to the conference participants, hoping their discussions would advance efforts to resolve this pressing issue.