On 24 February, the defense minister of Azerbaijan Republic, colonel-general met the senior representative of the International Committee of Red Crescent on Europe and America Ms. Beatrice Mezhvan Roggo and head of the ICRC Azerbaijan representation Ms. Mary Verntsens, regional expert on the issues of armed forces and security, major general in retirement, Gia Toradze and representative in Moscow Raul Forster.

In the information received by AzerTAj, it is stated that Minister Safar Abiyev stressed that the Azerbaijan representation of ICRC, known in the world as an organization engaged in humanitarian problems, was founded in 1992, and stated that during the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the Representation carried our search for the missing people, rendered assistance to the population and separate citizens.

Expressing her gratitude for kind words, Ms. Beatrice Mezhvan Roggo informed on the activity and principles of the work of the Committee and said: “Cooperation between ICRC and Azerbaijan and its Armed Forces will be continued further. Our mandate enables to cooperate with the armed forces of all the world states on the base of international-legal norms. One of our key missions is to study the Law of the Armed Conflicts. This Law, however, do not adjust to unleash war.

Regional expert of ICRC, major general in retirement, Gia Toradze spoke of the work experience conducted in this field in Georgia.

Noting the extreme complexity of the situation in the South Caucasus, colonel general Safar Abiyev stated that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is the result of separatist movement of the Armenians. Undoubtedly, this movement is backed from abroad.

Since the beginning of the conflict, it should be observed the principles of the international humanitarian law. However, it did not happened. Ousted from their homelands, over on million of Azerbaijani citizens, became refugees and internally displaced people, and still live in hard conditions. Military operations may resume in any time, and then, humanitarian catastrophe will happen in the region. The ICRC should warn the world community on this. If the Armenian state does not liberate Azerbaijan’s lands, and if to resume military operations, then, perhaps, a part of the guilt falls on the ICRC.

The defense minister of Azerbaijan underlined that in the course of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, were not fulfilled requirements of the four UN Resolutions on unconditional liberation of the Azerbaijani lands. Highlighting the guests on the Khojali tragedy and its sequences, the Minister said: “Every international organization, including ICRC, should do all the possible for settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict”.

Finally, Ms. Beatrice Mezhvan Roggo handed over to the Minister of defense the amended list of civilians and servicemen of Azerbaijan missing during the conflict.