Brussels: Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations have sent an open letter to European leaders attending the 8th European Political Community Summit and the EU-Armenia Summit. The letter calls for support in the peace and normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with a focus on addressing humanitarian issues such as missing persons and landmine contamination.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the letter highlights the pressing issue of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis who have been missing since the First Garabagh War. It claims that these individuals, including women, children, and the elderly, were allegedly subjected to torture and killing, which the NGOs argue are war crimes. Despite the liberation of Azerbaijani territories, Armenia has yet to provide information on the fate of these individuals or the locations of mass graves, a situation described as a humanitarian tragedy.
The letter also addresses the problem of landmine contamination in liberated areas of Azerbaijan. The NGOs state that Armenia’s lack of complete and accurate minefield maps has resulted in over 400 casualties since the end of the Second Garabagh War in 2020. This issue hampers reconstruction efforts and prevents the safe return of internally displaced persons.
In their appeal, the Azerbaijani NGOs urge European leaders to pressure Armenia to release information on missing persons and provide accurate minefield maps. They believe that resolving these issues could act as a confidence-building measure in the region.
The letter is signed by representatives from a wide range of Azerbaijani civil society organizations and human rights groups, emphasizing the collective call for action. The NGOs express hope that European leaders will demonstrate a commitment to addressing these humanitarian challenges during their upcoming visit to Armenia.