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.
The event brought together 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 of the conference.
One of the key aspects of this year’s discussions is the establishment and strengthening of trust between the parties. Experience shows that tangible progress in determining the fate of missing persons is impossible without cooperation, transparency, and the timely provision of accurate information.
Particular attention will therefore be given to the importance of providing comprehensive information on missing persons, including available data on mass and individual burial sites, as well as to the possibility of joint humanitarian work between parties to conflicts aimed at locating, recovering, and identifying the missing.
The conference seeks to move beyond discussion and contribute to practical and sustainable mechanisms that can strengthen 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.
