OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde welcomed the return of 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map of minefields provided to Azerbaijan.
She wrote about this on her Twitter page։
“Welcome to return of 15 detainees today and handover of info that will facilitate demining. These confidence building measures can help create atmosphere for talks under auspices of Minsk Co-Chairs,” she wrote.
It should be noted that during the meeting with the citizens in Gavar yesterday, on 12 June, the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said that the 15 prisoners are already in Armenia.
“I now consider it necessary to refer to all the circumstances of the return of our 15 brothers. Two days ago, I met with the US Assistant Secretary of State, who said that on the instructions of the US Secretary of State, he had a mission to ensure a breakthrough in the return of prisoners. If we are ready for such cooperation, they are ready to get involved.
Naturally, I said that we are ready, as a result of the efforts made today, including the Georgian Prime Minister, our Georgian brothers, I want to mention our partners in the European Union. They entered Georgia from Azerbaijan through the Red Bridge, then through Bagratashen to Armenia. Now they will be transferred, and pass a medical examination. We will definitely provide a visit with their relatives today,” he said.
It should be reminded that on the same day in the village of Karmir, Gegharkunik region, the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said:
“Another 15 of our captured brothers are returning to the Republic of Armenia,” said the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in the village of Karmir, Gegharkunik region.
“But I will not make a detailed announcement at the moment, they are on their way when they are in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, I will make a more detailed announcement only after that. At this moment, let us limit ourselves to this.
I hope to be able to provide more detailed information during our meeting in Gavar, but at the moment it is as follows: 15 of our brothers are returning after a few months of captivity, and the task now is to receive them, take them home and deal with the return of others immediately.
I hope no one doubts that we will return all our brothers. It is a matter of time and we need patience.
I want to apologize to the families whose children do not return today and their return is delayed again. I hope they will approach with understanding. Because now this is the most difficult moment, when, unfortunately, we cannot return them all at once, and that some of them are returning.
Of course, today 15 families will feel happy, but for others the burden and heaviness of that expectation will be heavier. But this is the way. We must return our brothers in groups.
And we do everything to achieve that goal. Let me not go into details now. They will be in the territory of the Republic of Armenia after some time, and then I will say in more detail with full names, settlements and other circumstances.
