BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of
the 4th International Conference in the Baku Dialogue Format on
“Strengthening Trust and Developing Effective Mechanisms for
Addressing the Issue of Missing Persons.”
The text of the address was published on the official website of
the President of Azerbaijan.
"Dear conference participants,
I sincerely welcome you to the 4th International Conference in
the Baku Dialogue format on “Strengthening Trust and Developing
Effective Mechanisms in Addressing the Issue of Missing
Persons.”
The problem of missing persons is one of the gravest
consequences of armed conflicts. We view this issue as a universal
humanitarian problem affecting the lives of people across various
regions of the world.
Despite the end of the conflict, establishing the fate of
missing persons remains one of the most pressing issues for
Azerbaijan. Established at the initiative of our country, the Baku
Dialogue serves as an important platform for uniting the efforts of
states, international organizations, and experts working on the
issue of missing persons, facilitating the exchange of experience,
expanding practical cooperation, and drawing greater international
attention to this problem.
The full restoration of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity, coupled with its consistent pursuit of peace, has
created a historic opportunity for lasting peace and cooperation in
the South Caucasus. The signing of the Joint Declaration between
Azerbaijan and Armenia on August 8, 2025, in Washington, in the
presence of the President of the United States of America, as well
as the initialing of the peace treaty between the two countries,
marked crucial steps in this direction.
Achieving lasting peace requires not only political agreements
but also building trust and addressing the humanitarian
consequences of the conflict. Establishing the fate of missing
persons is an integral part of this process and a moral
responsibility we bear toward their families.
As a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan,
which lasted for more than thirty years, 4,010 Azerbaijanis,
including children, women, and the elderly, are officially recorded
as missing. We note with regret that the activities of the
International Committee of the Red Cross over these years have
produced no results.
The historic Victory achieved in the Patriotic War and the
liberation of our lands from occupation have created new
opportunities to search for our missing citizens. Today, the State
Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons is
further expanding its activities and taking intensive measures to
establish the whereabouts of missing citizens and locate mass
graves.
To date, 32 mass graves have been discovered in our liberated
territories. Examinations conducted on human remains indicate that
the murdered Azerbaijanis had been subjected to torture. Concealing
prisoners of war and hostages from international organizations,
torturing them to death, and covering up evidence of these crimes
constitute gross violations of international law. These acts should
receive an appropriate legal assessment.
Azerbaijan will continue to mobilize all its capabilities to
establish the fate of persons who remain missing. None of our
missing citizens has been forgotten, and establishing their fate
remains a matter of constant attention for the state. It is our
moral duty to provide comprehensive support and care to every
family facing this tragedy and to share their pain.
The effectiveness of the search for missing persons directly
depends on access to accurate information. Armenia must provide all
information concerning the fate of missing Azerbaijanis, as well as
the locations of their mass and individual burial sites, and
facilitate access to the relevant archives and the gathering of
witness statements. In addition to being a legal obligation and a
humanitarian responsibility, this would serve as a practical
expression of a commitment to peace and contribute to building
mutual trust. Information concerning the fate of missing persons
must not be made subject to political conditions.
Dear conference participants,
Since 2002, Azerbaijan has been submitting draft resolutions on
missing persons to the UN General Assembly. We believe it is
essential to further strengthen international efforts in this
field. Within the framework of their mandates, the UN and other
relevant international organizations must play a more active role
in search efforts, the exchange of information, the development of
forensic capabilities, and providing greater support to
families.
In this regard, effective mechanisms must be based on political
will, reliable information, and sustained cooperation. The
application of modern technologies, access to archival data, the
training of specialists, and the regular provision of information
to families are key areas of this work. All activities must be
carried out with respect for human dignity and international
humanitarian law and without discrimination. Azerbaijan is ready to
contribute to joint initiatives on this issue. In this context, and
with a view to drawing greater global attention to the problem, we
consider it necessary to establish a special mechanism on missing
persons within the UN framework.
I am confident that the discussions and proposals put forward at
the Conference will contribute to establishing the fate of missing
persons and strengthening international humanitarian
cooperation.
I wish the Conference every success and all of you fruitful
discussions," the address reads.
