Bernhard Clausen: "Unfortunately, Azerbaijan and Armenia are not cooperating in the issue of the missing people"

The year of 2008 did not record any improvements of the situation with hostages and captives in the result of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, said Bernhard Clausen, co-chair of the International work group on release of captives and search of missing people and hostages in the Karabakh conflict area.

He said depression is still recorded in this area.

"I think the parties are observing the international norms of treatment of servicemen. Anyway, we think it is a progress that the word "exchange" has not been used by the parties for already several years. They are ready to return the military men to their country".

According to him, the issue of missing people is another matter.

"Here I do not see any cooperation between the sides, though they could attain some results together. Most of those, who could speak of the wartime, have left the region and live in Russia or in other places. Some of them died. Therefore, time is against us.

I think the issue of missing people should not be politicizes, the sides must cooperate for those mothers, wifes, who do not have any idea of what has happened to their husbands or sons. I think the news about possible death of a relative is better than lack of any information", noted Clausen.

/Day.Az/