On December 19, the Azerbaijani authorities handed over to Armenia 10 servicemen detained during clashes on the border of the two countries, the State Commission of the Republic for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens reports.
"As a manifestation of commitment to the principles of humanism, the Republic of Azerbaijan, through the mediation of the European Union, handed over 10 Armenian servicemen to Armenia on December 19," the message on the commission's website reads.
It is clarified that the transferred persons were detained on November 16 "while preventing a provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in the Kalbajar direction."
In addition, the statement of the State Commission states that on November 26, Azerbaijan extradited a civilian and a soldier to Armenia.
"At the same time, as a result of negotiations, the Armenian side provided the Azerbaijani side with mine maps of other liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We thank the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the mediation mission in obtaining mine maps," the organization added.
On December 14, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, assured the EU of their commitment to the implementation of the agreements on Karabakh reached through the mediation of Russia.
Michel stressed that the crucial importance is the solution of key humanitarian issues, such as the release of detainees and the resolution of the fate of the missing. He noted that the humanitarian gestures of both sides will help strengthen trust between the countries and help create conditions for reconciliation and peace.
On November 26, Russian Leader Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikola Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Sochi. The talks lasted about three hours and were timed to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the ceasefire declaration in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9, 2020.
Following the meeting, a joint statement was published . It states that the parties agreed to take steps to increase the level of stability and security on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. In addition, an agreement was reached on the establishment of a bilateral commission on the delimitation of the state border with its subsequent demarcation with the advisory assistance of the Russian Federation.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have disputed the ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. Then the region, where mostly Armenians live, declared its secession from the Azerbaijani SSR. During the 1992-1994 military conflict, Baku lost control over Karabakh. In September 2020, Baku took control of a number of settlements during military operations.
In November 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the participation of Russia, signed an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
