U.S. and EU welcome release of five more Armenian prisoners from Azerbaijani captivity

YEREVAN, September 9, /ARKA/. The US said the return of five Armenian detainees was a positive development for the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.

“We welcome reports of Armenian detainees returned home, a positive development for Armenia and Azerbaijan peace process,” Spokesperson for the US Department of State Ned Price said in a Twitter post.

“We hope all remaining detainees return home soon and Azerbaijan and Armenia continue taking steps to build trust and resolve outstanding differences,” he said.

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar has also welcomed the release of five Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan.

“Welcome news today regarding the release of five Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan following the meeting of the leaders in Brussels on 31/8. Important humanitarian gesture and likewise noteworthy that the handover took place without intermediaries,” Klaar said in a Twitter post.

European Council President Charles Michel has welcomed the release of five Armenian prisoners of war.

“Welcome release by Baku of five more Armenian detainees, following 31/8 discussions in Brussels. That handover is taking place bilaterally is a first – and to both Azerbaijan and Armenia credit,” Michel said in a Twitter post. .

On Thursday Azerbaijan freed and repatriated five more Armenian POWs captivated during or shortly after the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) said in a statement.

“We welcome this as a step contributing to the normalization of [Armenian-Azerbaijani] relations,” NSS said.

According to ICRC, 303 people from Armenia are considered missing after the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh.-0-